Those that live in the desert understand more than most that water is needed to sustain life. However, we remain largely ignorant and unappreciative of water’s unique and curious characteristics. We have all been taught that 71% of the earth is covered in water, about the water cycle and how our bodies are comprised of more than 65% water.
We take daily showers, water our fields and drink to our hearts’ content. Water always seems to be there when we need it. We take it for granted. Water is one of the only substances that becomes lighter than its liquid form when it transforms into a solid. Although, we all know that an ice cube will float in water no one can really explain exactly how or why this occurs. Almost all other substances get heavier when they cool, but as water cools it sinks until it hits 39 degrees, then inexplicably starts to get lighter. By the time it becomes ice it is 9% lighter than liquid water. Consider what would happen if frozen water was heavier than liquid water. Ice would accumulate at the bottom of the lakes and seas killing all the aquatic life. Conversely, by floating, water ice forms a blanket of sorts over the water insulating the life below during the cold weather.
Another unique characteristic particular to salt water is that it absorbs the non-visible light from the sun but allows the visible light to pass through, which allows the sun to feed the plants and bacteria that in turn feed larger oceans creatures.
Liquid water also has a unique surface tension due to its molecular bonds, which allow it to form droplets much easier than other liquids. This is what enables water vapor to form precipitation as it rises in our atmosphere. If water did not have these unique bonds the water vapor would escape our atmosphere, breaking the water cycle and quickly depleting our water supply. The surface tension allows trees to extract water from the soil and transport water up through small capillaries to each leaf, which in turn chemically transforms into the oxygen we breath. This curious molecular bond also allows water to dissolve vital life-giving minerals from rocks and distribute them perfectly both in our bodies and in the soil to nourish various plants. So the next time you turn on that faucet, consider how miraculous water truly is and how it is perfectly calibrated to sustain your life.