What gives water many properties that are important to living things?

1 Answer
Feb 12, 2016

Hydrogen bonds are pretty important in water for various living things. For example, trees and plants use capillary action through their xylem to absorb the water needed for growth. This capillary action is possible because of the strong intermolecular force of hydrogen bonds of water.

Explanation:

In addition some properties of water

  1. Ice floats, so the whole ocean doesn't freeze up from the bottom to the top

  2. Adhesion and cohesion, related to capillary action

  3. Surface tension allowing a sort of "walking on water" effect