Water has unique properties that allow it to sustain life.
Water is an essential molecule of life. One molecule of water contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The molecule is polar, meaning that it has negative and positive poles. Since oxygen has a high affinity for electrons, the end of the water molecule with the oxygen atom has a slight negative charge while the side with the hydrogen atoms has a slight positive charge. Water molecules are used by all sources of life for different purposes, as its polarity gives it many unique and useful properties.
Cellular Respiration
Water is a product of cellular respiration. In the mitochondria of cells, energized electrons travel down a cascade of proteins called the electron transport chain. The energy is stripped from the electrons and used to actively transport hydrogen ions, or protons, out of the mitochondria. The protons then reenter the mitochondria through an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) synthase, creating energy for the cell. The electrons that traveled through the electron transport chain are accepted by oxygen gas molecules, which then attract hydrogen ions inside the mitochondria to form water.
Photosynthesis
Water is a necessity in photosynthesis. Water enters plants through the stomata, which are microscopic openings found at the bottom of the plant's leaves. In the process of photosynthesis, plants energize electrons by absorbing light before sending them down an electron transport chain to create adenosine triphosphate. Plants take electrons from water to replenish their stocks of electron particles. The adenosine triphosphate is required to produce glucose. Without water, plants would not have an influx of adenosine triphosphate to fuel photosynthesis.
Body Temperature
Thermoregulation is the body's system to mitigate large and quick temperature shifts and control body temperature. The main tool the body employs in thermoregulation is water. The high specific heat of water provides insulation. Enormous amounts of heat are needed to significantly shift the temperature of water. Since the human body is 60 percent water, people have the ability to live in a wider range of climates. Furthermore, sweating in high temperatures also cools the body down, as evaporating water helps release body heat.
Weather
Water helps regulate global temperatures. The high specific heat of water coupled with the 70 percent water composition of Earth gives the planet a very wide and stable range of temperatures. As water evaporates and condenses, it helps to regulate the temperature of certain regions of Earth. When water evaporates, heat is transferred from the surface to the atmosphere. When water condenses, it rains and can transfer the heat from the atmosphere back to the surface of Earth.
Tags: adenosine triphosphate, electron transport, electron transport chain, transport chain, heat water, helps regulate, high specific
