Water is a very useful biological substance. It has many properties that render it essential for the sustenance of life. It is a major constituent both of the tissues in the body, and of the diet. Typically, about 60% of the water we take in comes from drinks, 30% comes from food, and the remaining 10% is metabolic water - the product of respiration.

It is a fairly simple molecule, being made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. Each of the hydrogen atoms share two electrons with the oxygen atom, but due to oxygen’s greater electronegativity, it has more pull on the electrons, creating a dipolar molecule, which has regions of slightly positive charge, and slightly negatively charged regions. These charged regions mean that the water molecules attract each other and form what are called hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds give water many of its unique properties.

Water will dissolve many substances because of its ability to hydrogen bond. It is often called the universal solvent, because so many things dissolve in it. Polar and ionic substances also have an electr

Water is transparent; it allows the transmission of sunlight, enabling aquatic plants to photosynthesise. This can happen as long as there are no particles suspended in the water.

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