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The chemical nature and biological significance of the water molecule
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THE CHEMICAL NATURE AND BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WATER MOLECULE Water is a vital resource for all living things. It is believed that life originated in water. The bodies of living organisms are mainly composed of water, and all living things need water to survive. The many unique properties of water cause it to have a tremendous impact on our physical environment as well. The water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom shares 2 electrons with each hydrogen atom. Both molecules thereby complete their other shells, the hydrogen atom with 2 electrons and the oxygen atom with 8. This diagram shows how the hydrogen and two oxygen atoms combine together to form a water molecule. An important feature of water is its polar nature. Water molecules are dipolar. That is they form at an angle and as a consequence the positively...
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