The Elements of Water
Water consists of two hydrogen molecules covalently bonded
to an oxygen molecule. Water is classified as a polar molecule, meaning that the
electrons of the atoms in the molecule are unequally shared. In water’s case, the
oxygen is more electronegative (attracts more electrons) than hydrogen causing
the electrons to drift around oxygen more. The polarity of water causes it to
have positive and negative ends because electrons are unequally shared. This
makes the Oxygen more negative because it has most of the electrons, and it
makes the Hydrogen more positive. These positive and negative ends cause water
to develop bonds with each other. These bonds are comparable to magnets. The positive
and negative ends attract. Water molecules attach via hydrogen bonds from the
negative and positive ends. These bonds are not restricted to water molecules.
They can attach to almost all polar molecules and ionic molecules.
Water exists in three states: liquid, solid, and gas. Water is a ubiquitous molecule present on earth. It covers approximately 70% of the earth and forms the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers. Almost all water on Earth is found in the oceans (about 97%), with the bulk of the remaining fresh water frozen in ice caps or glaciers, with small amounts in lakes, rivers or aquifers. The part of the earth containing water is called the hydrosphere. 99% of water is unusable because of its salinity. The one percent that is usable is made up mostly of ground water with just a very small percentage being lake and rivers.
Water exists in three states: liquid, solid, and gas. Water is a ubiquitous molecule present on earth. It covers approximately 70% of the earth and forms the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers. Almost all water on Earth is found in the oceans (about 97%), with the bulk of the remaining fresh water frozen in ice caps or glaciers, with small amounts in lakes, rivers or aquifers. The part of the earth containing water is called the hydrosphere. 99% of water is unusable because of its salinity. The one percent that is usable is made up mostly of ground water with just a very small percentage being lake and rivers.