Water on Earth, Properties of Water

Abstract

Water has always played an important role for civilizations. Some ancient civilizations used complex systems to exploit the water supplies that were available to them. The role of water to civilizations like ancient Romans or Greek or ancient Egypt is reviewed in the first sections of this chapter. Water is a unique molecule and the special chemical and physical properties of it are explained. Water is a dipolar molecule which explains its special properties. Also the special phases of water are discussed amongst them the different properties of ices. Without these water would not play a substantial role for the evolution of life. Also the abundance of the constituents of water, hydrogen and oxygen in the universe is discussed.