Monday, February 27, 2012

Interesting facts about water

1. Water is the most precious resource on our planet.

2. One molecule of water has a chemical formula of H2O, which means it contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.

3. Almost 71% of Earth's surface is covered with water (70,9%).

3. The largest amount of water on our planet is found in oceans with 96.5% while the 3,5% refers to groundwater and glaciers.

4. Despite the fact that our planet is rich with water only 2.5% of the Earth's water is freshwater.

5. Approximately one billion people in the world still lack access to safe drinking water.

6. Water shortages will become much bigger issue in years to come because human population continues to grow rapidly.

7. Climate change could also contribute to future water shortages.

8. Water is present in all three common states of matter in our planet.

9. Water is always in liquid state at standard temperature and pressure.

10. Water is tasteless and odorless.

11. Pure water is transparent.

12. Water is not excellent but good solvent.

13. Water is frequently referred to as universal solvent.

14. Pure water has low electrical conductivity.

15. Water has the maximum density at 3.98 °C (39.16 °F).

16. The scientists say that the largest amount of water in our universe occurred as a byproduct of star formations.

17. Water belongs to the weirdest substances on our planet, showing more than 80 unusual properties.

18. Some scientists say that water when chilled below the freezing point, can even shift into a new type of liquid.

19. Water can flow even at extremely low temperatures if the pressure is high. Ove Andersson, a physicist at UmeƄ University, has been able to produce sluggishly flowing water at 130 degree below zero under very high pressure - 10,000 times higher than normal pressure.

20. The scientists believe that water is very frequent substance in other galaxies, if not for anything else than because hydrogen and oxygen belong to the most abundant elements that can be found in space.

21. The scientists estimate that the largest reservoirs of water on our planet, the oceans, were formed more than 4.6 billion years ago.

22. The scientists still don't know the answer why there is a lot more water on the Earth than on the other planets of the Solar System.

23. Water plays key role in in many different geological processes, especially groundwater.

24. Water plays key role in photosynthesis.

25. Sea water freezes at lower temperatures than freshwater.

26. Water is an essential part of many metabolic processes within the body of all living organisms.

27. The earliest life forms on our planet appeared in water.

28. Water pollution is one of the major environmental issues of the modern world.

29. Each human body contains from 55% to 78% water, depending on the body size.

30. Sustainable water policy on global level is the only thing that can help avoid future global water crisis.

31. It is estimated that about 20% of water intake comes from food with the rest coming from drinking the water and different other beverages.

32. The UN statement from 2006 said that "there is enough water for everyone but access to it has been hampered by mismanagement and corruption."

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