Why is Water Essential for Life on Earth?

1260 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Short notes on water scarcity in simple words

There is no life on earth without water. Life almost certainly originated in water. From conception to birth, a child is natured in a sac of water (amniotic) fluid) which protects and cushions the foetus against physical harm. The birth of a child is heralded by the “breaking of waters” after a child is fed on breast-milk which is 90% water (Nagin, 2008).

Definition of water

Water in its pure form is a clear, colourless, odourless and tasteless liquid. It can exist in three states of matter, namely solid (ice), liquid and gas (vapour). The chemical formula for water is H20 which is interpreted as 2 hydrogen atoms and oxygen in a ratio 2:1.

The diagram below illustrates the formula for water using symbols: (Iowa State University)

Diagram showing states of water: Seavey (1998)

Water in its natural form us found in oceans, seas, man-made inland lakes and dams, rivers, streams as well as underground. The water which is found in these reservoirs is continuously replenished through the cynical rainfall system.

Diagram of the water cycle: (Evans, 2009)

Oceanic and sea water hosts a diverse range of aquatic life including edible fish and crustacean species which play an important role in the food supply chain. Oceanic and sea water is used in the production of sea-salt a commodity which is sold commercially throughout the whole world.

The highest percentage of fresh water found in lakes and dams is used for agricultural purposes. It is used for livestock watering and where feasible can be used for irrigation purposes. Some dams and lakes are built specifically for the generation of power-hydroelectricity...

... middle of paper ...

...ny people and contributes to the development of associated infrastructure.

The ability of water to make solutions is used for washing. The importance of water in personal hygiene cannot be over-emphasized. Human beings need to wash their bodies regularly in order to feel fresh, and wash hands in order to minimise the risk of cross infection.

The uses of water on Earth continue to expand. Physiotherapists use water for treating muscular-skeletal ailments, and midwives are experimenting on the advantages of water-birthing. These examples are using the warming and cooling effects or properties of water. In some religious sects water is used for baptism and for cleaning purposes because it is considered to be holy. In philosophy is it one of the four classical elements of the earth, alongside earth, fire and air; this signifies the importance of water on earth.

Show More
Related

  • Pesticides In Ground Water and Drinking Water

    369 Words  | 1 Pages

    Water is the life blood of every living creature on earth. Approximately 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered with water. Through the wonders of nature, water can take on many different forms. It is easy to understand the significance water plays in our lives, but it may be difficult to understand the water that exists below the earth's surface. This water is called groundwater.

    Read More

  • A Case For Eating Dogs By Jonathan Safran Foer Analysis

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    “A Case for Eating Dogs” is a satirical excerpt from Jonathan Safran Foer’s book titled “Eating animals” written in a reverie-description mode, intentionally addressed to the cultural context of Americans, specifically dog owners or animal lovers, yet also individuals who eat dog meat. Foer’s purpose is to encourage his audience to treat dogs as how they treat other animals by not consuming meat at all. Through the discourse structure of a satire and use of rhetorical devices and ingredients, audiences with a cultural context of animal lovers might agree with Foer, whereas dog owners and/or lovers might misinterpret his implicit message and hence, continue eating meat.

    Read More

  • The Biological Importance of Water as a Solvent and as a Medium for Living Organisms

    452 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Biological Importance of Water as a Solvent and as a Medium for Living Organisms

    Read More

  • The Role Of Water In Living Organisms

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water has importance inside cells and outside. This may be because of its chemical and physical properties; it can be found naturally in all three of its states. At room temperature water is in a liquid state, It boils at 100ºC and freezes at 0ºC. However its molecules are bonded together by hydrogen bonds, this raises it's melting and boiling points, e.g. its boiling point would be -120ºC rather than 100ºC. Water can also be used as a solvent because of it polarity. Many things will dissolve in it, and more reactions take place while in solution with water.

    Read More

  • Importance Of Essential Nutrients In The Body

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    Williams (2006) define water as a clear, tasteless, odourless fluid. Water is a vital nutrient for good health posner (1998). Most of our body weight (60-70%) is made up of water. Wretlid (1999) explain that water is important in human body because, it help to control our body temperature, carries nutrients and water product from our cell, and it needed for our cells to function help us to lose weight, for the heath skin, fight infections, get rid of toxins, health heart, prevent join pains and arthritis, boost energy, prevent constipation and reduce chances of cancer. World Health Organisation recommended that, adults drink 8 glasses of fluid daily or more in hot weather or during physical activity. This fluid doesn’t have to be water alone.it can also obtain from juice, milk, soap as fruit and vegetables Garrow

    Read More

  • The Properties of Water

    880 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water is not as simple as people think it is. Water is formed by the bonding of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. This bond that is being referred to is termed as a polar covalent bond. Polar means having a pair of equal and opposite charges. In this case, that is exactly what is happening. The oxygen atoms are negatively charged, whereas, the hydrogen atoms are positively charged. Water is formed when one atom of oxygen joins with two atoms of hydrogen which causes the ends of water molecules to be contradictory charges. The composition and make up of water also helps it to have some very inimitable and erratic qualities (Chemical Elements and Water , 2007).

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech On Conserve Water

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    Attention Getter: Besides oxygen, water is the most important element for anything to live on the earth. 450 billion gallons of water are used every day in the US alone. However, less than 1% of treated water is actually consumed. The rest of the 99% is used for washing machines, dishwashers, sprinklers, toilets, pools, and countless other things.

    Read More

  • Oceans: The Source of Life For Our Planet

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    As such, without the oceans we would not be able to breathe due to fact that various organisms that live in the oceanic environment such as phytoplankton and stromatolites which create oxygen and help us to stay alive and allow .Aquaculture plays an important part in the ocean's services by bringing within the realm of possibility a new way of food production around the world by making sustainable long- term practices available, and food security as well as environmental costs being leveled.

    Read More

  • The Chemical Properties of Water

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    The water molecule is a very small one but because of its unique properties it behaves like

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Water Is Life Not A Commodity

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the sustenance for all humankind, animals, plants and other living organisms, Water is the greatest natural resources on this planet and it is becoming scarcer and more of a necessity. Water is a basic need and not a want in the same way that without air to breathe, cannot sustain life. Safe, clean water and good sanitation is a right. Therefore, the right to safe, clean water means the right to life. According to United Nations human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, ethnic origin, color, religion, language or any other status. Based on UN definition I am confident to assert that safe, clean drinking water and good sanitation is a basic human

    Read More

  • The Importance of Water in the Human Body

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water is an essential nutrient that our body requires every day. Without water human life cannot be sustained. Water deprivation kills faster than lack of any other nutrient. People do not think of water as a nutrient and don’t realize the important role of water in the body functions.

    Read More

  • A Lack of Clean Drinking Water

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water is the most vital part of life. Water is needed from humans, to plants and other organisms, and to do basically everything. Water allows our bodily functions to work and to remove waste from our bodies. Plants need water to grow, and humans need plants to gr...

    Read More

  • The Water Crisis and Solutions

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freshwater is quite scarce, but it is even scarcer than one might think: about seventy percent of all freshwater is frozen in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland and is unavailable to humans. Most of the remainder is present as soil moisture or lies in deep underground aquifers as groundwater. It is not economically feasible to extract this waster for use as drinking water. This leaves less than one percent of the world’s fresh water that is available to humans. It includes the water found in lakes, reservoirs, groundwater that is shallow enough to be tapped at an affordable cost. These freshwater sources are the only sources that are frequently replenished by rain and snowfall, and therefore are renewable. At the current rates of consumption, however, this supply of fresh water will not last. Pollution and contamination of freshwater sources exacerbate the problem, further reducing the amount of freshwater available for human consumption. Something must be done if humans want to even survive in the near future: the lack of clean drinking water is already the number one cause of disease in the world today. The first step is worldwide awareness of the water crisis: governments and the citizens they govern worldwide need to know about this problem and be actively involved in solving this problem.

    Read More

  • We Must Prevent Water Pollution

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water is our main source of our life. We need it to live, drink, bathe,

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Water Management

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    An essential element to support life is water. People, animals and plants all need water to live and to grow. Places in the world lack enough water to help people stay healthy. Water is a human right so Government is responsible to help meet people’s need for enough safe water according to B. Malmberg(2007). Water Management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the use of water resources. The inter basin water transfer can be described as a man made conveyance scheme which moves water from one river basin to another basin where water is less available or could be utilized better for human development.

    Read More

More about Why is Water Essential for Life on Earth?

Open Document