water

Very short introduction

Author: John Finney

Water is the basis of life on planet Earth. It is the dominant liquid on its surface, and it exhibits strange and unusual behaviors. This book, part of the Very Short Introduction series, presents the scientific foundations for the formation of water and explores how its structure leads to its physical and chemical properties. By reviewing the three states of water—solid, liquid, and gas—it demonstrates the critical importance of understanding its structure and behavior for a range of fields, including chemistry, astrophysics, earth sciences, and the environment. The book also explores the role water plays in the lives of organisms and concludes with a discussion of the most prominent controversies surrounding water and some of the “magical” properties attributed to it.