Properties of water:
1. Water is polar- this property of water allows it to dissolve other polar compounds.
2. Water is "universal solvent"- this term is used because water is an excellent solvent that has the capability to dissolve most solutes (but not everything).
3. High heat capacity- water can minimize changes in temperature. It needs a lot of energy in order to raise the temperature of a certain amount of water.
4. High heat of vaporization- this property helps humans and other organisms to cool off. It takes a lot of heat to vaporize a certain amount of water.
5. Less dense as a solid form than its liquid form- during winter, as water freezes in ponds or lakes, the ice floats because the molecules form a crystalline structure that spaces the molecules further from each other. This keeps the bodies of water from freezing solid; thus allowing life to continue under the freezing surface.
6. Cohesive and adhesive properties- cohesive forces are responsible for creating surface tension and adhesive properties help water to stick to other substances. These properties are important for fluid transport in organisms.