How do the unique chemical and physical properties of water make life on earth possible?
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It turns out that several chemical properties of water make it indispensable for living creatures. Not only can water dissolve nearly anything, but it is also one of only a few materials that can exist as solid, liquid and gas within a relatively narrow range of temperatures.
To stay alive, the organism takes in important materials for making energy, while shuttling out toxic substances such as waste products.
In this regard, water is essential simply because it's a liquid at Earth-like temperatures. Because it flows, water provides an efficient way to transfer substances from a cell to the cell's environment.
The water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom.
The way they're bonded together makes water this wonderful universal solvent, meaning that almost every substance can dissolve in water.
Water, with its amazing dissolving properties, is the perfect medium for transmitting substances, such as phosphates or calcium ions, into and out of a cell.
Another feature of water is that it can act as a solid, liquid and gas within the range of temperatures that occur on Earth. Other molecules that have been identified as good candidates for supporting life tend to be liquid at temperatures or pressures that would be inhospitable for most known life-forms.
The fact that water can be in all three phases in a relatively tight range of pressures creates many opportunities for life to flourish.
All three [states of water] available on our planet creates this really neat variety of habitats and microclimates.
To stay alive, the organism takes in important materials for making energy, while shuttling out toxic substances such as waste products.
In this regard, water is essential simply because it's a liquid at Earth-like temperatures. Because it flows, water provides an efficient way to transfer substances from a cell to the cell's environment.
The water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom.
The way they're bonded together makes water this wonderful universal solvent, meaning that almost every substance can dissolve in water.
Water, with its amazing dissolving properties, is the perfect medium for transmitting substances, such as phosphates or calcium ions, into and out of a cell.
Another feature of water is that it can act as a solid, liquid and gas within the range of temperatures that occur on Earth. Other molecules that have been identified as good candidates for supporting life tend to be liquid at temperatures or pressures that would be inhospitable for most known life-forms.
The fact that water can be in all three phases in a relatively tight range of pressures creates many opportunities for life to flourish.
All three [states of water] available on our planet creates this really neat variety of habitats and microclimates.
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