Final answer:
Water has many properties that are critical to maintaining life, including being an excellent solvent, having a high heat capacity, and a high heat of vaporization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water is a product of dehydration synthesis.
Water has many properties that are critical to maintaining life. It is a polar molecule, allowing for the formation of hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds allow ions and other polar molecules to dissolve in water. Therefore, water is an excellent solvent. The hydrogen bonds between water molecules cause the water to have a high heat capacity, meaning it is good at retaining heat. Additionally, water has a high heat of vaporization and a low surface tension.