Water - Revision history

Nicesociety at 04:47, 12 November 2008

2008-11-12T04:47:40Z

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	Water also plays an important role in literature as a symbol of purification. Examples include the critical importance of a river in As I Lay Dying'' by William Faulkner and the drowning of Ophelia in ''Hamlet''.		Water also plays an important role in literature as a symbol of purification. Examples include the critical importance of a river in As I Lay Dying'' by William Faulkner and the drowning of Ophelia in ''Hamlet''.

			[[Category: Science]]

Nicesociety: /* Religion, philosophy, and literature */

2008-11-07T23:30:24Z

Religion, philosophy, and literature

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	Some faiths use water especially prepared for religious purposes (holy water in some Christian denominations, ''Amrita'' in Sikhism and Hinduism). Many religions also consider particular sources or bodies of water to be sacred or at least auspicious; examples include Lourdes in Roman Catholicism, the Jordan River (at least symbolically) in some Christian churches, the Zamzam Well in Islam and the River Ganges (among many others) in Hinduism.		Some faiths use water especially prepared for religious purposes (holy water in some Christian denominations, ''Amrita'' in Sikhism and Hinduism). Many religions also consider particular sources or bodies of water to be sacred or at least auspicious; examples include Lourdes in Roman Catholicism, the Jordan River (at least symbolically) in some Christian churches, the Zamzam Well in Islam and the River Ganges (among many others) in Hinduism.

	Water is often believed to have spiritual powers. In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of thermal springs; in Hinduism, the ~~Ganga in Hinduism\|~~Ganges is also personified as a goddess, while Saraswati have been referred to as goddess in Vedas. Also water is one of the "panch-tatva"s (basic 5 elements, others including fire, earth, space, air). Alternatively, gods can be patrons of particular springs, rivers, or lakes: for example in ~~Greek mythology\|~~Greek and ~~Roman mythology\|~~Roman mythology, Peneus was a river god, one of the three thousand Oceanids. In Islam, not only does water give life, but every life is itself made of water: "We made from water every living thing". (Sura of Al-Anbiya 21:30)		Water is often believed to have spiritual powers. In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of thermal springs; in Hinduism, the Ganges is also personified as a goddess, while Saraswati have been referred to as goddess in Vedas. Also water is one of the "panch-tatva"s (basic 5 elements, others including fire, earth, space, air). Alternatively, gods can be patrons of particular springs, rivers, or lakes: for example in Greek and Roman mythology, Peneus was a river god, one of the three thousand Oceanids. In Islam, not only does water give life, but every life is itself made of water: "We made from water every living thing". (Sura of Al-Anbiya 21:30)

	The Ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles held that water is one of the four classical elements along with fire, earth and air, and was regarded as the ylem, or basic substance of the universe. Water was considered cold and moist. In the theory of the four four bodily humors, water was associated with phlegm. Water was also one of the five elements in traditional Chinese philosophy, along with earth, fire, wood, and metal.		The Ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles held that water is one of the four classical elements along with fire, earth and air, and was regarded as the ylem, or basic substance of the universe. Water was considered cold and moist. In the theory of the four four bodily humors, water was associated with phlegm. Water was also one of the five elements in traditional Chinese philosophy, along with earth, fire, wood, and metal.

	Water also plays an important role in literature as a symbol of purification. Examples include the critical importance of a river in As I Lay Dying'' by William Faulkner and the drowning of Ophelia in ''Hamlet''.		Water also plays an important role in literature as a symbol of purification. Examples include the critical importance of a river in As I Lay Dying'' by William Faulkner and the drowning of Ophelia in ''Hamlet''.

Nicesociety: /* Information and properties */

2008-11-07T23:29:14Z

Information and properties

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	* As an oxide of hydrogen, water is formed when hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compounds burn or react with oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds. Water is not a fuel, it is an end-product of the combustion of hydrogen. The energy required to split water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis or any other means is greater than the energy released when the hydrogen and oxygen recombine		* As an oxide of hydrogen, water is formed when hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compounds burn or react with oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds. Water is not a fuel, it is an end-product of the combustion of hydrogen. The energy required to split water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis or any other means is greater than the energy released when the hydrogen and oxygen recombine

	* Elements which are more ~~Electropositivity\|~~electropositive than hydrogen such as lithium, sodium, calcium, potassium and caesium displace hydrogen from water, forming hydroxides. Being a flammable gas, the hydrogen given off is dangerous and the reaction of water with the more electropositive of these elements is violently explosive.		* Elements which are more electropositive than hydrogen such as lithium, sodium, calcium, potassium and caesium displace hydrogen from water, forming hydroxides. Being a flammable gas, the hydrogen given off is dangerous and the reaction of water with the more electropositive of these elements is violently explosive.

	==Distribution of water in nature==		==Distribution of water in nature==

Nicesociety at 23:26, 7 November 2008

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	'''Water''' is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, ''water'' refers only to its liquid form or ~~States of matter\|~~state, but the substance also has a solid state, ''ice'', and a gaseous state, ''water vapor'' or ''steam''. About 1.460 ~~Tonne#Multiples\|~~petatonnes (Pt) (10<sup>21</sup>kilograms) of water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the atmosphere as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation Saltwater oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%, and other land surface water such as rivers, lakes and ponds 0.6%. A very small amount of the Earth's water is contained within water towers, biological bodies, manufactured products, and food stores. Other water is trapped in ice caps, glaciers, aquifers, or in lakes, sometimes providing fresh water for life on land.		'''Water''' is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, ''water'' refers only to its liquid form or state, but the substance also has a solid state, ''ice'', and a gaseous state, ''water vapor'' or ''steam''. About 1.460 petatonnes (Pt) (10<sup>21</sup>kilograms) of water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the atmosphere as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation Saltwater oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%, and other land surface water such as rivers, lakes and ponds 0.6%. A very small amount of the Earth's water is contained within water towers, biological bodies, manufactured products, and food stores. Other water is trapped in ice caps, glaciers, aquifers, or in lakes, sometimes providing fresh water for life on land.

	Water moves continually through a cycle of evaporation or transpiration (evapotranspiration), precipitation, and runoff , usually reaching the sea. Winds carry water vapor over land at the same rate as runoff into the sea, about 36 Tt (10<sup>12</sup>kilograms) per year. Over land, evaporation and transpiration contribute another 71 Tt per year to the precipitation of 107 Tt per year over land. Clean, fresh drinking water is essential to human and other life.		Water moves continually through a cycle of evaporation or transpiration (evapotranspiration), precipitation, and runoff , usually reaching the sea. Winds carry water vapor over land at the same rate as runoff into the sea, about 36 Tt (10<sup>12</sup>kilograms) per year. Over land, evaporation and transpiration contribute another 71 Tt per year to the precipitation of 107 Tt per year over land. Clean, fresh drinking water is essential to human and other life.

Nicesociety: /* Health and pollution */

2008-11-04T00:46:43Z

Health and pollution

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	Water fit for human consumption is called drinking water or potable water. Water that is not potable can be made potable by filtration or distillation (heating it until it becomes water vapor, and then capturing the vapor without any of the impurities it leaves behind), or by other methods (chemical or heat treatment that kills bacteria). Sometimes the term safe water is applied to potable water of a lower quality threshold (i.e., it is used effectively for nutrition in humans that have weak access to water cleaning processes, and does more good than harm). Water that is not fit for drinking but is not harmful for humans when used for swimming or bathing is called by various names other than potable or drinking water, and is sometimes called safe water, or "safe for bathing". Chlorine is a skin and mucous membrane irritant that is used to make water safe for bathing or drinking. Its use is highly technical and is usually monitored by government regulations (typically 1 part per million (ppm) for drinking water, and 1–2 ppm of chlorine not yet reacted with impurities for bathing water).		Water fit for human consumption is called drinking water or potable water. Water that is not potable can be made potable by filtration or distillation (heating it until it becomes water vapor, and then capturing the vapor without any of the impurities it leaves behind), or by other methods (chemical or heat treatment that kills bacteria). Sometimes the term safe water is applied to potable water of a lower quality threshold (i.e., it is used effectively for nutrition in humans that have weak access to water cleaning processes, and does more good than harm). Water that is not fit for drinking but is not harmful for humans when used for swimming or bathing is called by various names other than potable or drinking water, and is sometimes called safe water, or "safe for bathing". Chlorine is a skin and mucous membrane irritant that is used to make water safe for bathing or drinking. Its use is highly technical and is usually monitored by government regulations (typically 1 part per million (ppm) for drinking water, and 1–2 ppm of chlorine not yet reacted with impurities for bathing water).

	===As a scientific standard===		===As a scientific standard===

	On 7 April 1795, the gram was defined in France to be equal to "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to a cube of one hundredth of a meter, and to the temperature of the melting ice. For practical purposes though, a metallic reference standard was required, one thousand times more massive, the kilogram. Work was therefore commissioned to determine precisely how massive one liter of water was. In spite of the fact that the decreed definition of the gram specified water at 0 °C—a highly stable ''temperature'' point—the scientists chose to redefine the standard and to perform their measurements at the most stable ''density'' point: the temperature at which water reaches maximum density, which was measured at the time as 4 °C		On 7 April 1795, the gram was defined in France to be equal to "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to a cube of one hundredth of a meter, and to the temperature of the melting ice. For practical purposes though, a metallic reference standard was required, one thousand times more massive, the kilogram. Work was therefore commissioned to determine precisely how massive one liter of water was. In spite of the fact that the decreed definition of the gram specified water at 0 °C—a highly stable ''temperature'' point—the scientists chose to redefine the standard and to perform their measurements at the most stable ''density'' point: the temperature at which water reaches maximum density, which was measured at the time as 4 °C

Nicesociety: /* Health and pollution */

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Health and pollution

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	===As a scientific standard===		===As a scientific standard===

	On 7 April 1795, the gram was defined in France to be equal to "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to a cube of one hundredth of a meter, and to the temperature of the melting ice. For practical purposes though, a metallic reference standard was required, one thousand times more massive, the kilogram. Work was therefore commissioned to determine precisely how massive one liter of water was. In spite of the fact that the decreed definition of the gram specified water at 0 °C—a highly stable ''temperature'' point—the scientists chose to redefine the standard and to perform their measurements at the most stable ''density'' point: the temperature at which water reaches maximum density, which was measured at the time as 4 °C		On 7 April 1795, the gram was defined in France to be equal to "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to a cube of one hundredth of a meter, and to the temperature of the melting ice. For practical purposes though, a metallic reference standard was required, one thousand times more massive, the kilogram. Work was therefore commissioned to determine precisely how massive one liter of water was. In spite of the fact that the decreed definition of the gram specified water at 0 °C—a highly stable ''temperature'' point—the scientists chose to redefine the standard and to perform their measurements at the most stable ''density'' point: the temperature at which water reaches maximum density, which was measured at the time as 4 °C

Nicesociety: /* Health and pollution */

2008-11-04T00:45:53Z

Health and pollution

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	Water fit for human consumption is called drinking water or potable water. Water that is not potable can be made potable by filtration or distillation (heating it until it becomes water vapor, and then capturing the vapor without any of the impurities it leaves behind), or by other methods (chemical or heat treatment that kills bacteria). Sometimes the term safe water is applied to potable water of a lower quality threshold (i.e., it is used effectively for nutrition in humans that have weak access to water cleaning processes, and does more good than harm). Water that is not fit for drinking but is not harmful for humans when used for swimming or bathing is called by various names other than potable or drinking water, and is sometimes called safe water, or "safe for bathing". Chlorine is a skin and mucous membrane irritant that is used to make water safe for bathing or drinking. Its use is highly technical and is usually monitored by government regulations (typically 1 part per million (ppm) for drinking water, and 1–2 ppm of chlorine not yet reacted with impurities for bathing water).		Water fit for human consumption is called drinking water or potable water. Water that is not potable can be made potable by filtration or distillation (heating it until it becomes water vapor, and then capturing the vapor without any of the impurities it leaves behind), or by other methods (chemical or heat treatment that kills bacteria). Sometimes the term safe water is applied to potable water of a lower quality threshold (i.e., it is used effectively for nutrition in humans that have weak access to water cleaning processes, and does more good than harm). Water that is not fit for drinking but is not harmful for humans when used for swimming or bathing is called by various names other than potable or drinking water, and is sometimes called safe water, or "safe for bathing". Chlorine is a skin and mucous membrane irritant that is used to make water safe for bathing or drinking. Its use is highly technical and is usually monitored by government regulations (typically 1 part per million (ppm) for drinking water, and 1–2 ppm of chlorine not yet reacted with impurities for bathing water).

	====As a scientific standard====		===As a scientific standard===
	On 7 April 1795, the gram was defined in France to be equal to "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to a cube of one hundredth of a meter, and to the temperature of the melting ice. For practical purposes though, a metallic reference standard was required, one thousand times more massive, the kilogram. Work was therefore commissioned to determine precisely how massive one liter of water was. In spite of the fact that the decreed definition of the gram specified water at 0 °C—a highly stable ''temperature'' point—the scientists chose to redefine the standard and to perform their measurements at the most stable ''density'' point: the temperature at which water reaches maximum density, which was measured at the time as 4 °C		On 7 April 1795, the gram was defined in France to be equal to "the absolute weight of a volume of pure water equal to a cube of one hundredth of a meter, and to the temperature of the melting ice. For practical purposes though, a metallic reference standard was required, one thousand times more massive, the kilogram. Work was therefore commissioned to determine precisely how massive one liter of water was. In spite of the fact that the decreed definition of the gram specified water at 0 °C—a highly stable ''temperature'' point—the scientists chose to redefine the standard and to perform their measurements at the most stable ''density'' point: the temperature at which water reaches maximum density, which was measured at the time as 4 °C

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	Natural water consists mainly of the isotopes hydrogen-1 and oxygen-16, but there is also small quantity of heavier isotopes such as hydrogen-2 (deuterium). The amount of deuterium oxides or heavy water is very small, but it still affects the properties of water. Water from rivers and lakes tends to contain less deuterium than seawater. Therefore, a standard water called Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water is defined as the standard water.		Natural water consists mainly of the isotopes hydrogen-1 and oxygen-16, but there is also small quantity of heavier isotopes such as hydrogen-2 (deuterium). The amount of deuterium oxides or heavy water is very small, but it still affects the properties of water. Water from rivers and lakes tends to contain less deuterium than seawater. Therefore, a standard water called Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water is defined as the standard water.

	====As a heat transfer fluid====		===As a heat transfer fluid===

	Water and steam are used as heat transfer fluids in diverse heat exchange systems, due to its availability and high heat capacity, both as a coolant and for heating. Cool water may even be naturally available from a lake or the sea. Condensing steam is a particularly efficient heating fluid because of the large heat of vaporization. A disadvantage is that water and steam are somewhat corrosive. In almost all electric power plants, water is the coolant, which vaporizes and drives steam turbines to drive generators.		Water and steam are used as heat transfer fluids in diverse heat exchange systems, due to its availability and high heat capacity, both as a coolant and for heating. Cool water may even be naturally available from a lake or the sea. Condensing steam is a particularly efficient heating fluid because of the large heat of vaporization. A disadvantage is that water and steam are somewhat corrosive. In almost all electric power plants, water is the coolant, which vaporizes and drives steam turbines to drive generators.
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	In the nuclear industry, water can also be used as a neutron moderator. In a pressurized water reactor, water is both a coolant and a moderator. This provides a passive safety measure, as removing the water from the reactor also slows the nuclear reaction down.		In the nuclear industry, water can also be used as a neutron moderator. In a pressurized water reactor, water is both a coolant and a moderator. This provides a passive safety measure, as removing the water from the reactor also slows the nuclear reaction down.

	====Chemical uses====		===Chemical uses===
	Organic reactions are usually quenched with water or a water solution of a suitable acid, base or buffer. Water is generally effective in removing inorganic salts. In inorganic reactions, water is a common solvent. In organic reactions, it is usually not used as a reaction solvent, because it does not dissolve the reactants well and is amphoteric (acidic ''and'' basic) and nucleophilic. Nevertheless, these properties are sometimes desirable. Also, acceleration of Diels-Alder reactions by water has been observed. Supercritical water has recently been a topic of research. Oxygen-saturated supercritical water combusts organic pollutants efficiently.		Organic reactions are usually quenched with water or a water solution of a suitable acid, base or buffer. Water is generally effective in removing inorganic salts. In inorganic reactions, water is a common solvent. In organic reactions, it is usually not used as a reaction solvent, because it does not dissolve the reactants well and is amphoteric (acidic ''and'' basic) and nucleophilic. Nevertheless, these properties are sometimes desirable. Also, acceleration of Diels-Alder reactions by water has been observed. Supercritical water has recently been a topic of research. Oxygen-saturated supercritical water combusts organic pollutants efficiently.

	==Religion, philosophy, and literature==		==Religion, philosophy, and literature==

Nicesociety: /* Information and properties */

2008-11-04T00:45:14Z

Information and properties

Nicesociety at 00:43, 4 November 2008

2008-11-04T00:43:14Z

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	**holy water		**holy water

	Information and properties		==Information and properties==
	*Common name: water		*Common name: water
	*IUPAC name : oxidane		*IUPAC name : oxidane
	*Alternative names: aqua, dihydrogen monoxide, hydrogen hydroxide,		*Alternative names: aqua, dihydrogen monoxide, hydrogen hydroxide
	* Molecular formula: H<sub>2</sub>O		* Molecular formula: H<sub>2</sub>O
	*CAS number: 7732185		*CAS number: 7732185
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	Water is the chemical substance with chemical formula '''~~hydrogen\|~~H<sub>2</sub>~~oxygen\|~~O''': one molecule of water has two hydrogen atoms covalently chemical ~~bond\|~~bonded to a single oxygen atom.		Water is the chemical substance with chemical formula '''H<sub>2</sub>O''': one molecule of water has two hydrogen atoms covalently chemical bonded to a single oxygen atom.

	The major chemical and physical properties of water are:		The major chemical and physical properties of water are:

Nicesociety: /* Chemical and physical properties */

2008-11-04T00:41:38Z

Chemical and physical properties

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	**holy water		**holy water

	~~==Chemical and physical properties==~~		Information and properties
	~~! chembox header \|~~ Information and properties		*Common name: water
	\|-		*IUPAC name : oxidane
	\| Common name		*Alternative names: aqua, dihydrogen monoxide, hydrogen hydroxide,
	\| water		* Molecular formula: H<sub>2</sub>O
	\|-		*CAS number: 7732185
	\| IUPAC name		* International Chemical Identifier: InChI=1/H2O/h1H2
	~~\| [http~~:~~//www.acdlabs.com/iupac/nomenclature/93/r93_182.htm~~ oxidane]		* Molar mass: 18.0153 g/mol
	\|-		* Density and Phase (matter)phase: 0.998 g/cm³ <small>(liquid at 20 °C, 1 atm)</small><br /> 0.917 g/cm³ <small>(solid at 0 °C, 1 atm)</small>
	\| Alternative names		*Melting point: 0 Celsius°C (273.15 kelvinK) (32 Fahrenheit°F)
	\| aqua, dihydrogen monoxide, ~~<br />~~hydrogen hydroxide, ~~(wikt:wikisaurus:water\|more)~~		* Boiling point: 99.974 °C (373.124 K) (211.95 °F)
	\|-		* Specific heat capacity: 4.184 J/(g·K) <small>(liquid at 20 °C)</small><br/> 74.539 J/ (mol·K) <small>(liquid at 25 °C)</small>
	\| Molecular formula
	\| H<sub>2</sub>O
	\|-
	\| CAS number
	~~\| 7732-18-5~~
	\|-
	\| International Chemical Identifier~~\|InChI~~
	\| InChI=1/H2O/h1H2
	\|-
	\| Molar mass
	\| 18.0153 g/mol
	\|-
	\| Density and Phase (matter)\|phase
	\| 0.998 g/cm³ <small>(liquid at 20 °C, 1 atm)</small><br /> 0.917 g/cm³ <small>(solid at 0 °C, 1 atm)</small>
	\|-
	\| Melting point
	\| 0 ~~Celsius\|°C~~ (273.15 ~~kelvin\|K~~) (32 ~~Fahrenheit\|°F~~)
	\|-
	\| Boiling point
	\| 99.974 °C (373.124 K) (211.95 °F)
	\|-
	\| Specific heat capacity
	\| 4.184 J/(g·K) <small>(liquid at 20 °C)</small><br/> 74.539 J/ (mol·K) <small>(liquid at 25 °C)</small>
	\|-
	~~! chembox header \| Water (data page)\|Supplementary data page~~
	\|-
	~~\| align="center" cellspacing="3" style="border: 1px solid #C0C090; background-color: #F8EABA; margin-bottom: 3px;" colspan="2" \|<small>wikipedia:Chemical infobox\|Disclaimer and references</small>~~
	\|-
	\|}
	~~main\|Water (molecule)~~

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	The major chemical and physical properties of water are:		The major chemical and physical properties of water are:

	* Water is a tasteless, odorless liquid at ~~standard conditions\|~~ambient temperature and pressure. The color of water and ice is, intrinsically, a very light blue hue, although water appears colorless in small quantities. Ice also appears colorless, and water vapor is essentially invisible as a gas.		* Water is a tasteless, odorless liquid at ambient temperature and pressure. The color of water and ice is, intrinsically, a very light blue hue, although water appears colorless in small quantities. Ice also appears colorless, and water vapor is essentially invisible as a gas.

	* Water is transparent, and thus aquatic plants can live within the water because sunlight can reach them. Only strong UV light is slightly absorbed.		* Water is transparent, and thus aquatic plants can live within the water because sunlight can reach them. Only strong UV light is slightly absorbed.

	* Since oxygen has a higher electronegativity than hydrogen, water is a polar molecule. The oxygen has a slight negative charge while the hydrogens have a slight positive charge giving the article a strong effective dipole Electrical dipole ~~moment\|~~moment. The interactions between the different dipoles of each molecule cause a net attraction force associated with water's high amount of surface tension.		* Since oxygen has a higher electronegativity than hydrogen, water is a polar molecule. The oxygen has a slight negative charge while the hydrogens have a slight positive charge giving the article a strong effective dipole Electrical dipole moment. The interactions between the different dipoles of each molecule cause a net attraction force associated with water's high amount of surface tension.

	* Another very important force that causes the water molecules to stick to one another is the hydrogen bond.		* Another very important force that causes the water molecules to stick to one another is the hydrogen bond.

	* The boiling point of water (and all other liquids) is directly related to the barometric pressure. For example, on the top of Mt. Everest water boils at about ~~convert\|68\|°C~~, compared to ~~convert\|100\|°C~~ at sea level. Conversely, water deep in the ocean near geothermal vents can reach temperatures of hundreds of degrees and remain liquid.		* The boiling point of water (and all other liquids) is directly related to the barometric pressure. For example, on the top of Mt. Everest water boils at about 68°C, compared to 100°C at sea level. Conversely, water deep in the ocean near geothermal vents can reach temperatures of hundreds of degrees and remain liquid.

	* Water sticks to itself. Water has a high surface tension caused by the strong cohesion between water molecules because it is polar molecule\|polar. The apparent elasticity caused by surface tension drives the capillary waves.		* Water sticks to itself. Water has a high surface tension caused by the strong cohesion between water molecules because it is polar molecule\|polar. The apparent elasticity caused by surface tension drives the capillary waves.
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	* Capillary action refers to the tendency of water to move up a narrow tube against the force of gravity. This property is relied upon by all vascular plants, such as trees.		* Capillary action refers to the tendency of water to move up a narrow tube against the force of gravity. This property is relied upon by all vascular plants, such as trees.

	* Water is a very strong solvent, referred to as ''the universal solvent'', dissolving many types of substances. Substances that will mix well and dissolve in water, e.g. ~~Salt (chemistry)\|~~salts, sugars, acids, alkalis, and some gases: especially oxygen, carbon dioxide (carbonation), are known as "hydrophilic" (water-loving) substances, while those that do not mix well with water (e.g. ~~lipids\|~~fats and oils), are known as "hydrophobic" (water-fearing) substances.		* Water is a very strong solvent, referred to as ''the universal solvent'', dissolving many types of substances. Substances that will mix well and dissolve in water, e.g. salts, sugars, acids, alkalis, and some gases: especially oxygen, carbon dioxide (carbonation), are known as "hydrophilic" (water-loving) substances, while those that do not mix well with water (e.g. fats and oils), are known as "hydrophobic" (water-fearing) substances.

	* All the major components in cells (proteins, DNA and polysaccharides) are also dissolved in water.		* All the major components in cells (proteins, DNA and polysaccharides) are also dissolved in water.
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	* Water has the second highest specific heat capacity of any known chemical compound, after ammonia, as well as a high heat of vaporization (40.65 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>), both of which are a result of the extensive hydrogen bonding between its molecules. These two unusual properties allow water to moderate Earth's climate by buffering large fluctuations in temperature.		* Water has the second highest specific heat capacity of any known chemical compound, after ammonia, as well as a high heat of vaporization (40.65 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>), both of which are a result of the extensive hydrogen bonding between its molecules. These two unusual properties allow water to moderate Earth's climate by buffering large fluctuations in temperature.

	* The maximum density of water is at ~~convert\|~~3.~~98\|°C.<ref>Kotz, J. C., Treichel, P., & Weaver, G. C. (2005). Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity. Thomson Brooks/Cole.</ref>~~ Water becomes even less dense upon freezing, expanding 9%. This causes an unusual phenomenon: ice floats upon water, and so water organisms can live inside a partly frozen pond because the water on the bottom has a temperature of around convert\|4\|°C.		* The maximum density of water is at 3.98°C Water becomes even less dense upon freezing, expanding 9%. This causes an unusual phenomenon: ice floats upon water, and so water organisms can live inside a partly frozen pond because the water on the bottom has a temperature of around convert\|4\|°C.

	* Water is miscible with many liquids, for example ethanol, in all proportions, forming a single homogeneous liquid. On the other hand, water and most oils are ''immiscible'' usually forming layers according to increasing density from the top. As a gas, water vapor is completely miscible with air.		* Water is miscible with many liquids, for example ethanol, in all proportions, forming a single homogeneous liquid. On the other hand, water and most oils are ''immiscible'' usually forming layers according to increasing density from the top. As a gas, water vapor is completely miscible with air.