Question

How do the unique chemical and physical properties of water make life on earth possible?

Answer 1

Hint: Water is the most abundant and important resource on earth. It is required by all life forms for their survival. It covers most of the earth and also makes up most of our bodies. It is essential for all the physiological processes in living organisms.

Complete answer:
The unique chemical and physical properties of water that make life on earth possible are:
-Water molecules are polar in nature as the oxygen and hydrogen atom in them form a covalent polar Bond. The water molecule has no charge but hydrogen atoms in it have positive charge while the oxygen atom has a negative charge due to which both the atoms repel each other and form a unique shape. Due to the polarity this water molecules attract other polar molecules. The substances that dissolve in water molecules are called hydrophilic substances while those that do not dissolve are called hydrophobic substances.
-Water also has the property of stabilizing temperature. Water molecules have hydrogen bonds that absorb and release heat energy more slowly than any other substance. The temperature of the water changes with the organism and the surrounding temperature. A good example of this is evaporation of sweat which is 90% water that takes heat away from the body and helps it cool down.
-Water it is a great solvent as it is capable of dissolving another substance in it. This is because of the polarity of the water molecule.
-Another property of water is its cohesiveness which allows it to take up the shape of the container. Due to this property water molecules are attracted to each other and this keeps these molecules together at their liquid air interface. It also gives rise to the surface tension property of the water.

Note: Water has the property of moving from a region of its high concentration to a region of its low concentration and it is called osmosis. This process of osmosis is very important for various physiological processes in plants.