For almost three weeks,Texas has baked in 100+ degree heat. So, it’s not surprising water, in the form of rain, is on everyone’s mind. (Many of us haven’t seen rain in more than double that time.)
Chemical Makeup
Water is essential in the world. It’s everywhere—beneath the ground, on the Earth’s surface (oceans, rivers, etc.), and in the air we breathe. Water is in the cells of all living things. It even makes up 75% of the human body.
Molecularly speaking, not all water is the same, although all water contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The difference is the hydrogen atoms’ nuclei. Regular water’s hydrogen atoms contain only a single proton. Heavy water’s hydrogen atoms contain a proton and a neutron, making heavy water, well, heavier.
Water molecules are both cohesive (sticky to each other) and adhesive (sticky to other surfaces).
Did You Know…
- Heavy water has two main uses: (1) creating energy in nuclear power plants and (2) making nuclear weapons.
- Of non-metallic liquids, water is the most cohesive.
Physical Properties
Water is unique. It’s the only natural substance found on Earth in all three physical states—solid, liquid, and gas. In its solid form of ice, water expands and is less dense than its liquid form. As a liquid, it’s the “universal solvent.” No other liquid dissolves more substances. It doesn’t matter where it goes, it carries valuable chemicals, minerals, and nutrients. Because of this, “pure” water cannot be found in the natural environment. It always has something in it.
Depending on how much calcium and magnesium minerals it carries, water can be hard or soft. It can also be salty or fresh. Freshwater’s boiling point is 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level and its freezing point is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Saltwater, on the other hand, needs a higher temperature to boil and a lower temperature to freeze. Exactly what those temps are depends on how salty the water is.
Did You Know…
- True “pure” water doesn’t conduct electricity. Water’s electrical conductivity comes from the substances dissolved in it.
- Icebergs float in the ocean because water is denser than ice. (And ocean water is denser than freshwater.)
- Being more dense, cold water sinks to the bottom of a lake (or ocean). The ice on top acts as an insulator, preventing the rest of the water from freezing. This allows aquatic organisms to survive the winter.
- Frozen seawater doesn’t contain salt because only the water freezes.
- When water freezes, the ice created expands 9%.
- Ice’s expansion exerts immense amounts of pressure on the things around it. It can cause pipes to burst and rocks to crack.
- In 86 degrees Fahrenheit seawater, sound waves travel at about 3,500 miles per hour!
Water Uses
In Did You Know 75% of Americans Are Chronically Dehydrated? I discussed how important water is to the human body. But water also plays an important role in the world around us. Our food is grown with it, and many of the goods we purchase are manufactured with it. Water keeps businesses, as well as our bodies, running smoothly.
Did You Know…
- More than 300 gallons of water are used each day by the average American family. About 70% of that is indoors, while the remaining 30% is used outdoors.
- Less than 1% of the earth’s water is available for human usage. The rest is either ocean water (saltwater), frozen in polar ice caps (freshwater), or just too inaccessible to be useful.
- Most of the world’s water usage is for agriculture, industry, and electricity.
- According to mind-blowingfacts.com, corn plants release water into the air in a process called “corn sweat.” This process can raise humidity levels by up to 10%!
- One acre of corn can release 3,000-4,000 gallons of water each day!
- Water can cut through steel. In many industries, water jets are the go-to technology for cutting metals. (A high-pressure waterjet uses 50,000-60,000 psi. In comparison, a high-pressure car wash uses only 1,000 psi.)