Why is water essential for Life to exist on Earth? We are about 60% water - and there are some organisms that are as much as 90% water! What is so important about water? How does it support life? In this video, we discuss the special properties of water that make it the “Solvent of Life.” Chief among these properties is the extensive Hydrogen Bonding between water molecules that make water an extremely cohesive liquid (the molecules stick together). Due to the extensive hydrogen bonding, water has some emergent properties that impact life on Earth in many ways. These include: Cohesion, Adhesion, High surface tension, High specific heat, High Heat of vaporization, and the fact that ice floats (Ice is less dense as a solid than liquid water). For each of these properties, we discuss how they impact living creatures on Earth.
Why is water essential for Life to exist on Earth? We are about 60% water - and there are some organisms that are as much as 90% water! What is so important about water? How does it support life? In this video, we discuss the special properties of water that make it the “Solvent of Life.” Chief among these properties is the extensive Hydrogen Bonding between water molecules that make water an extremely cohesive liquid (the molecules stick together). Due to the extensive hydrogen bonding, water has some emergent properties that impact life on Earth in many ways. These include: Cohesion, Adhesion, High surface tension, High specific heat, High Heat of vaporization, and the fact that ice floats (Ice is less dense as a solid than liquid water). For each of these properties, we discuss how they impact living creatures on Earth.