Water is the foundation of life on our planet. However, what do we know about it? This substance with a simple chemical formula can be studied indefinitely. In all the centuries-old history of the existence of mankind, water has occupied a dominant position. That is why, while rushing into the expanses of the Universe, scientists are trying to find sources of water on other planets that would be evidence of biological life. Unfortunately, such attempts are still in vain. Despite numerous studies and discoveries, we have not proved the existence of other civilizations, which may many times exceed us in their development.
Water is the basis of our existence
Rarely, who of us asks the question: "What is water?" But without it, a person's life is simply impossible. Science claims that a six-month-old human embryo consists of 97% water, at birth its quantity drops to 92%, the body A teenager contains 80% of this substance, in adulthood, these figures are 70%, and in the elderly - only 60%. In this we see a certain pattern that allows us to come to this world with young and full strength and leave it, living to a very old age. You can adhere to all sorts of diets, completely give up meat, bread and dairy products, but you can not exclude water from the diet. With a strong thirst, the volume of water in the body decreases by 5-8%, while in a person hallucinations are observed, the swallowing function is disrupted, vision and hearing are disturbed, and a syncope occurs. A more serious lack of fluid can cost health and even life. The value of water for man is so great that we no longer imagine our life without this multifunctional substance. And many of us take it for granted, forgetting to take care of this vital and healing source. Water is a universal solvent for all nutrients and minerals, as well as amino acids and vitamins. It is able to regulate the temperature of our body, remove from the body the products of vital activity and various toxic components. It is with the help of water that our muscles perform their basic function - contractile. Not for nothing is the diet of athletes always contains an increased amount of liquid. What is water in our everyday life? This is one of the main and irreplaceable food products. Every morning we start with a cup of fragrant coffee or freshly made tea, which it is simply impossible to cook without water, like most favorite dishes. Scientists have proved that for the preservation of health, a person should consume up to 2.5 liters of liquid per day - this will ensure his well-being, activate mental activity and give strength.
Where does the water come from?
Our planet contains about 1500 million km 3 of water, of which only 10% is fresh water. A lot of sources are located under the earth's crust at different depths - this allows them to be divided into underground and surface waters. In the bowels of the earth, such pools have the form of peculiar vessels, which are surrounded by solid rocks and contain water under high pressure. Reservoirs located at a depth of several meters are widely used as a basis for wells. However, this water is constantly in contact with the upper loose soil layer, which makes it polluted and not always suitable for household needs. The glaciers of Antarctica, located in Greenland, are huge sources of fresh water. In addition, an important role in our life is played by atmospheric precipitation, which are formed by the evaporation of natural sources. And how much do we annually get fresh water from the World Ocean with the help of various physical and chemical methods? It should be noted that most often for their needs a person uses water from lakes and rivers. Baikal alone is worth something! After all, this is the cleanest and largest natural reservoir, located on the expanses of Russia. Such reservoirs have no value and are a miracle of the light. More than 6000 km 3 of water is in living organisms, including in plants. Thus, the natural resources of water are distributed throughout our planet. A person constantly exchanges fluid with nature: through sweat, urine and the secretion of droplets of fluid with breathing. However, few people ask themselves the question: "What will happen if such mutual exchange stops?" In this case, dehydration will come - the process of dehydration of the body. We will begin to feel weak, we will become palpitated, there will be shortness of breath and dizziness. As a result, irreversible processes can occur in the nervous and cardiovascular systems, which will lead to the death of our body.
Water in nature
If you look at the Earth from space, you can marvel at how unreasonably this heavenly body was called. The most suitable name for him is Water. It's not just that astronauts compared the planet to the blue ball, as the ultramarine can suppress all colors that are inherent in the earth's surface.
The ocean is the foremother of all living organisms, and many scientists insist that the first life could have arisen precisely in the aquatic environment. In a relatively small and enclosed body of water, certain organic substances could accumulate, which were ingested by the flowing waters. Then such compounds were concentrated on the inner surface of a layered mineral, which could act as a catalyst for reactions. Subsequently, a new unexplored life was born, which people still had to study. To date, water in nature is considered the most common substance, since more than 70% of the total area of the earth's surface is occupied by natural water bodies and only about 30% is land. Water is so multifunctional that people have learned to use it in almost all areas of their lives. We all love to soak up the warm sand near the sea and look forward to a vacation in order to return to the gentle embrace of playful and affectionate sea waves.
Classes of natural water
Water happens:
- fresh - 2.5%;
- salted - 97.5%;
- in the form of brines.
Considering that about 75% of the water is frozen in polar caps and glaciers, about 24% of the groundwater is underground, and 0.5% of moisture is dispersed in the soil, it turns out that the cheapest and most affordable source of water for us is the lake , Rivers and other terrestrial reservoirs. It's terrible to think that they make up only about 0.01% of the world's water reserves. Therefore, the question "what is water?" Can be safely answered - this is the most precious treasure of our planet.
Features of water
The chemical formula of water is quite simple: it is the combination of an oxygen atom with two hydrogen atoms. It would seem that it can be simpler, but there is no more mysterious substance. Water is the only substance that can exist in nature in three aggregate states: gaseous, solid and liquid, depending on pressure and temperature. This fluid is of great importance for the emergence and maintenance of life processes on Earth, as well as for the formation of climate and relief.
Water is the most mobile substance after air. It constantly moves, making movements over very long distances. When exposed to solar heat, water evaporates from the surface of plants, soil, rivers, water bodies and seas. At the same time, water vapor is formed, which is collected in clouds and transported by the wind, after which it falls over various continents in the form of snow or rain. It should be noted that water is capable of giving off heat without noticeably lowering its temperature, thereby regulating the climate. The molecular formula of water indicates that this substance has a simple structure, but so far it is considered little studied, because there are still many unexplored oddities of this substance, which, perhaps, contribute to the maintenance of life on Earth.
Physical properties of water
Water, or hydrogen oxide, is a chemical substance, has the appearance of a colorless liquid that has neither smell nor taste. Under normal conditions, H2O (water) is stored in a liquid aggregate state, while analogous hydrogen compounds are gases. All this can be explained by the special characteristics of the atoms composing the molecule, and the presence of bonds between them.
A drop of water consists of molecules that are attracted by opposite poles, thus forming polar bonds, which can not be ruptured without effort. Each molecule in its composition contains a hydrogen ion, which is so small that it can penetrate the shell of the negative oxygen atom located in the neighboring molecule. As a result, a hydrogen bond is formed. The scheme of water shows that each molecule has a strong connection with four neighboring molecules, two of which are formed by oxygen atoms, and the other two are formed by hydrogen atoms. In addition, water has a high surface tension, in this property it is second only to mercury. The relative viscosity of H2O is due to the fact that the hydrogen compounds do not allow the molecules to move at different rates. For the same reasons, water is considered an excellent solvent, since each molecule of the dissolved substance is immediately surrounded by water molecules, and in large quantities. In this case, the positively charged molecular parts of the polar substance attract oxygen atoms, and the negatively charged ones attract hydrogen atoms.
What does the water react with?
These are the following substances:
- active metals (calcium, potassium, sodium, barium and much more);
- halogens (chlorine, fluorine) and interhalogen compounds;
- salts;
- anhydrides of inorganic and carboxylic acids;
- active organometallic compounds;
- carbides, nitrides, phosphides, silicides, hydrides of active metals;
- silanes, borans;
- Carbon monoxide;
Fluorides of noble gases.
What happens when I heat up?
Water reacts:
- with magnesium, iron;
- with methane, coal;
With alkyl halides.
What happens in the presence of a catalyst?
Water reacts:
- with alkenes;
- with acetylene;
- with nitriles;
- with amides;
- with esters of carboxylic acids.
Density of water
The water density formula resembles a parabola with a specific vertex at a temperature of 3.98 degrees. With such indicators, the density of this chemical is 1000 kg / m 3 . In a pond, the density of water is affected by factors such as temperature, mineralization, the presence of salts and the pressure of the upper layers. Science has proved that the higher the temperature, the greater the volume of the substance and its lower density. The same property is possessed by water, however, in the range from 0 ° C to 4 ° C it does not hold, since with increasing temperature the volume begins to decrease. If there are no dissolved gases in the water, it can be cooled down to a temperature of -70 ° C, and it does not become ice. In the same way, you can bring this substance to a temperature of 150 ° C and it will not boil. Despite the fact that the formula of water is very unpretentious, its properties have already for millennia cause people to bow before this mighty element.
Health Benefits of Water
From water all the tissues of the human body are composed: muscles, bones, lungs, heart, Kidney, liver, skin and adipose tissue. The most liquid, namely 99%, contains a vitreous ocular body, and least of all, about 0.2%, tooth enamel. It is rich in water content and brain, because without this substance we can not think and form information. Any biochemical reactions taking place in the body can optimally proceed only with sufficient water intake, otherwise the end products of metabolism will accumulate in the tissues and cells, which will lead to the development of many serious diseases. To avoid this, it is necessary to observe the correct water consumption.
The role of water in the body
Water contributes:
- transportation to various organs and tissues of useful substances, microelements and oxygen;
- removal of toxins and salts;
- normalization of heat transfer;
- regulation of hematopoiesis and blood pressure;
- lubrication of joints and muscles.
Symptoms of dehydration
When dehydrating the following phenomena are observed:
- drowsiness, weakness;
- dry mouth, shortness of breath;
- fever, headache;
- violation of logical thinking, fainting;
- muscle spasms;
- hallucinations;
Blunting vision and hearing;
- formation of cholesterol plaques, worsening of blood flow;
- joint pain.
Possible diseases with dehydration and water rate
The following diseases can develop:
- arthritis;
- Heartburn, gastritis, constipation;
- formation of stones in the gallbladder;
- Obesity.
Daily it is recommended to drink up to 2.5 liters of liquid, including those contained in liquid food. If a person smokes, eats meat, consumes alcohol and coffee, he should increase the daily rate of water, because these tendencies contribute to increased dehydration. After a good night's rest, all life processes in our body gain strength, which is why you should support your body and create an additional water reserve for it. In the afternoon, when we have a peak of activity, take the liquid in small portions so as not to overload the internal systems and organs. In the evening, it is worth removing all the restrictions and drinking as much as you want, of course, if there are no health problems.
Whether it is necessary to wash down food?
The daily water norm should be distributed evenly, it is especially useful to drink a little liquid before meals in order to normalize the exchange purification processes, as well as to lower the blood concentration and cholesterol level. Doctors do not recommend washing down food, because in this case the gastric juice is diluted, and the digestion process slows down. Lack of water in the body can lead to stress, resulting in the brain will receive signals of hunger, although a person recently ate. As a consequence, he will eat again instead of replenishing the store of liquid. At this point, excess nutrients will be deposited in the form of fat, which in the future may adversely affect the overall condition. Drinking daily enough water, you can suppress the feeling of hunger and reduce the amount of consumed foods, especially fatty. It should be noted that juices and tea can not completely replace pure water, because they contain active substances that can disrupt the chemical composition of our body. Carbonated drinks, consisting of harmful chemical compounds, can provoke additional dehydration.
Interesting Facts
1. In the body of animals and plants, the average amount of water is more than 50%.
2. The earth's mantle contains 10 times more water than in the oceans.
3. The average depth of the World Ocean is 3.6 km, it covers up to 71% of the entire surface of the Earth and contains about 97.6% of free water.
4. In the absence of protuberances and depressions on the Earth, the surface of the water would rise over the land by 3 kilometers.
5. If all glaciers melted, the water level would rise by 64 m, as a result of which 1/8 of the land would be flooded.
6. Sea water has an average of 35% salinity, which allows it to freeze at a temperature of -1.91 o C.
7. In some cases, water can freeze at plus temperature.
8. Inside the nanotubes, the water formula changes, its molecules adopt a new state that allows the liquid to spread even at zero temperature.
9. Water can reflect up to 5% of the sun's rays, and snow - more than 85%, but only 2% of daylight can penetrate the ice.
10. Pure ocean water has a blue color, which is explained by its selective absorption and dispersion.
11. With the help of water droplets that drip from the tap, it is possible to reproduce a voltage of about 10 kilovolts.
12. Water is one of the few natural substances that can expand in the transition from a liquid state to a solid state.
13. Water vapor and water can burn in combination with fluorine, such mixtures become explosive at high concentrations.
Finally
What is water? This is a diverse, albeit simplest, connection, which is the main building material of our planet. No living organism can live without water. It is a source of energy, a carrier of information and a real storehouse of health. Still our distant ancestors believed in the miraculous power of water and applied its medicinal qualities in the treatment of many ailments. The task of our generation is to preserve this beautiful element in its primordial state. We can do much to make our descendants feel relatively safe. Saving water, we will keep life on our wonderful and warm planet. People, take care of the water! It can not be replaced even with all the treasures of the world. Water is a reflection of the state of our planet, its heart and life-giving force.