Changes

[[Image:Water.png|thumb|right|200px|A model of a water molecule. The red spheres represent hydrogen, and the green sphere represents oxygen]]

[[Image:Water.png|thumb|right|200px|A model of a water molecule. The red spheres represent hydrogen, and the green sphere represents oxygen]]

[[Water]] is one of the the most important [[chemical]] compounds because no living creature can survive without it. More than half of the weight of most organisms is water. <ref>"... a high fraction of the make up of an organism (50%) usually consists simply of liquid water" [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:xD25WXmL1egJ:www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol1015.htm+water+organisms+mass&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&lr=lang_en Stephen T. Abedon, Ph.D.], Ohio State University</ref>

'''Water''' is one of the the most important [[chemical]] compounds because no living creature can survive without it. More than half of the weight of most organisms is water.<ref>"... a high fraction of the make up of an organism (50%) usually consists simply of liquid water" [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:xD25WXmL1egJ:www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol1015.htm+water+organisms+mass&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&lr=lang_en Stephen T. Abedon, Ph.D.], Ohio State University</ref>

Water is an odorless, tasteless, colorless [[liquid]]. When people describe the [[flavor]] of water they are referring to impurities found in it (see [[mineral water]], [[bottled water]]).  

Water is an odorless, tasteless, colorless [[liquid]]. When people describe the [[flavor]] of water they are referring to impurities found in it (see [[mineral water]], [[bottled water]]).  

Water, compared to other compounds, has a number of unusual properties, such as expanding rather than contracting when it freezes. As noted by Lawrence Henderson in his 1913 book, ''The Fitness of the Environment,'' its ability to support life is directly related to some of these unusual properties.  Water has the strongest hydrogen bonding of any known molecule.  This is the reason why it is a liquid at room temperature despite its low molar mass.  Hydrogen bonding also explains why water is less dense as a solid than a liquid.  Water also has an unusually high [[heat capacity]].  [[Heat capacity]] is the ability of a substance to resist changes in temperature.   

Water, compared to other compounds, has a number of unusual properties, such as expanding rather than contracting when it freezes. As noted by Lawrence Henderson in his 1913 book, ''The Fitness of the Environment,'' its ability to support life is directly related to some of these unusual properties.  Water has the strongest hydrogen bonding of any known molecule.  This is the reason why it is a liquid at room temperature despite its low molar mass.  Hydrogen bonding also explains why water is less dense as a solid than a liquid.  Water also has an unusually high [[heat capacity]].  [[Heat capacity]] is the ability of a substance to resist changes in temperature.   

====Saltwater====

==Saltwater==

Saltwater is water with significant amounts of [[salt]] in it. It exists in [[ocean]]s and [[lake]]s. Saltwater from the ocean has many different minerals and cannot be drunk, unless the water is desalinated and the salt removed (saltwater with ordinary table salt can be consumed in small amounts).  Saltwater is known for its healing properties, with gargling of saltwater commonly used to treat sore throats.

Saltwater is water with significant amounts of [[salt]] in it. It exists in [[ocean]]s and [[lake]]s. Saltwater from the ocean has many different minerals and cannot be drunk, unless the water is desalinated and the salt removed (saltwater with ordinary table salt can be consumed in small amounts).  Saltwater is known for its healing properties, with gargling of saltwater commonly used to treat sore throats.