Water is essential for living things to grow, reproduce, and carry out critical processes.  The hydrosphere includes all the water on and below the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.  About 97% of Earth’s water is salt water found in the ocean, while the other 3% is fresh water.  The majority of that 3% is located in the enormous masses of ice near Earth’s poles.  Most water that is found in the atmosphere is water vapor.

Water has properties that are different from most other substances, which is what makes it so unique.  First, a water molecule is made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms.  H20 is the chemical formula used to represent water’s structure.  Secondly, water is a polar molecule, meaning the positive hydrogen end of one water molecule attracts the negative oxygen ends of another, making them stick together.  Thirdly, surface tension describes the molecules on the surface of water that causes tightness, almost giving the water a “skin.”  This characteristic causes raindrops to form around beads falling on a car’s windshield.  Fourthly, water is a universal solvent because many substances dissolve in it.  It can dissolve certain solids, liquids, and gases.  Also, capillary action allows water to move through materials with pores or narrow spaces.  This characteristic enables water to travel up stems and into leaves.  Finally, water can change into all states of matter: solid, liquid, or gas.  Evaporation is the process of a liquid changing to gas at the surface. Condensation is the process of a gas changing to a liquid.

The water cycle is a continuous process by which water moves through the living and nonliving parts of the environment.  The sun is the energy source that drives the water cycle.  Water droplets in clouds become heavy and fall back to Earth.  Water that falls to Earth, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, is called precipitation.  Evaporation occurs over the ocean when the sun’s heat turns the water into water vapor that rises into the air.  As the water vapor cools, it condenses into liquid, and clouds form.  Plants also give off moisture.  Transpiration occurs as plants release water into the air through their leaves.  The water cycle renews Earth’s supply of fresh water.

Review:

1. Identify three properties of water that make it so unique.
2. What is the difference between evaporation and condensation?
3. What is the water cycle?