WATER PROPERTIES

Water is a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid composed of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. Water is an universal solvent, meaning that many elements can be dissolved by water. Fresh water has relatively few elements dissolved in the water, while the oceans contain many dissolved salts.

Water is important to our lives, and without it we could not live. In fact, there are no living creatures that can live without water. Water most probably originated on this planet as gases were emitted from volcanoes. The Earth's atmosphere captured this water and has continuously recycled it throughout time, in what is called the water cycle. Water evaporates and forms clouds – the clouds provide rain and snow – which is collected in rivers, lakes, underground reservoirs, and oceans – that are the source for further evaporation. Water is the perfect substance for the water cycle, because it has a high boiling point and a low freezing point.

3 forms of water ice, water, and steam