Final answer:
The chemical structure of water gives rise to critical properties that support life on Earth, including high specific heat, cohesive behavior, and expansion upon freezing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical Structure of Water and Its Critical Properties
Water is a polar molecule due to its bent shape, which means it has positive and negative ends. This polarity gives rise to hydrogen bonding between water molecules. Hydrogen bonds contribute to several critical properties of water, such as high specific heat, cohesion, and expansion upon freezing. The high specific heat allows water to absorb and release heat slowly, helping to regulate temperature on Earth. Cohesion enables water molecules to stick together, forming surface tension and facilitating transport within plants and animals. Expansion upon freezing allows ice to float, insulating water bodies and preventing them from freezing solid, which is vital for aquatic life.
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