Water - Why is it so special?

GCSE: Chemistry

In order to understand the uniqueness of water and why it’s such an essential and important part of our lives. This paper has been structured to look at the following concepts relating to water.
Starting with the detailed structure of the water molecule, the chemical and physical properties and how they give water its special and unique characteristics. Also the importance of water for life and how water is needed and used for our survival. Looking at the water cycle, outlining the key concepts and why this structure is so essential for living organisms.
Following from this, how water is used in so many industries, giving examples but focusing mainly on the textile industry, at how they need and use water and what they are doing to control the usage.
Finally a look at water pollution, what are the causes, effects and how we can help prevent further pollution. Ending with a conclusion to the statement “Water….What’s so special”?

The water molecule has the simplest structure. It is formed of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, which are bonded together by strong covalent bonds. As seen in figure one.

Figure one. The water molecule

The water composition) 2 parts hydrogen and one part oxygen was discovered by a London scientist Herergy Cavendish in about 1781. (Figure two). He reported his findings in terms of phlogiston (later the gas he made was proven to be hydrogen and dephlogisticated air, (later this was proven to be oxygen). (Ref BioBookCHEM2 website)
Figure two. Henergy Cavendish
So let us look at how this is represented.
The atom oxygen has an electronic configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p4, which shows that it has 6 electrons in its outer most shell. Hydrogen has an electronic configuration of 1s1, which shows that it has 1 electron in its outer most shell.
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