Final answer:
The distribution of minerals and nutrients attributed to the climate is an example of water's versatility as a solvent, strongly related to its adhesive properties, which enable capillary action essential for nutrient transport in plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The global distribution of minerals and nutrients through climate is an example of water's versatility as a solvent. This particular property can be explained by the adhesion of water, where water molecules form connections with other substances. This attribute leads to capillary action, the process that allows water to transport nutrients against gravity within narrow spaces, such as the tiny veins in plant leaves or the soil's pore spaces.
One can see adhesion in action when water 'climbs' up a drinking straw or when plants draw water up from their roots to their leaves, these processes are vital for the survival of most organisms and for the transport of water and dissolved minerals they require.