Question

Provide one example of how life on Earth would not be possible without water based on its characteristics.

Answer 1

Answer: ice is less dense than liquid water. If ice was more dense, Earth would freeze.

Explanation: There are many reasons why life on Earth depends on the characteristics of water. One could discuss hydrogen bonds and its role as a solvent, but the unusual property of water is is the change in density with change in temperature. Water is densest at 4 degC, which is why ice floats - it is less dense than cold water (it melts quickly in warm water, so density isn’t impotant at higher temperatures). Most liquids are less dense than the solid, frozen form. If this was the case with water, any ice that formed would sink, and sease would freeze from the bottom up. Furthermore, the lowest layers would be insulated and would not all melt in summer. Thus over time, the seas would become a thin layer of liquid water at best, over solid ice. Life could not develop without liquid seas. In addition, ice is reflective, reducing the amount of sunlight absorbed, further reducing temperatures. Without ocean circulation, polar areas would be even colder, and there would be no rain.