water : a wonder liquid explain
Answers
Planet Earth is covered up by 78% of water and only 3% of this water is freshwater, the remaining water is salt water contained in seas and oceans. Water is the most important liquid and available freely in nature. It is one of the renewable resources and forms the basis for the existence of life on earth.
Freshwater is drinkable water consumed by animals and living organisms. The availability of this water is decreasing by the day due to factors such as overpopulation, urbanization, improper sewage treatment etc. Out of the 3% fresh water that is available on the earth, 0.3% water is found in lakes, rivers, swamps etc., the rest of the water is frozen in ice caps and glaciers. However, ocean water is subjected to the hydrological cycle to undergo certain processes to make water consumable for various needs.
Water is a colourless, tasteless and odourless liquid. Chemically, water consists of 2 molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen, it’s chemical formula is and has a covalent bond, the molecular weight of water is 18 grams or 1 mole of water.
Why Does Water Need To Be Available?
Is water necessary at all? Even if it is, is it required by all organisms? Yes, water is necessary for the survival of all living organisms, hence it needs to be available at all times for our existence. Following are a few of the reasons stating the importance of water.
Most biological processes take place in a water medium
Water needs to be dissolved in the cells for chemical reactions to take place and transportation of substances to occur from one part to another part of the body
Maintaining the water levels inside the body is essential for survival
Water is used in our daily lives for various needs
Not having water around us can lead to a rise in health hazards
Greatly contributes to minimizing effects of droughts and water scarcity on people
Water cycle does get rains on land, but not necessarily in the same area where water was washed away due to various reasons (tsunamis, droughts, cyclones)
Water needs to be available to plants, as they form an important part of our food chain
Marine species require water for their survival