Surface tension is one unique property of water that makes life possible on Earth. Surface tension is the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water. Each molecule in the water drop is attracted to the other water molecules in the drop. This causes the water to pull itself into a shape with the smallest amount of surface area. Water is sticky and elastic, and tends to clump together in drops rather than spread out in a thin film. All the water molecules on the surface of the bead are 'holding' each other together or creating surface tension. Water's hydrogen atoms are grouped to one side. This allows a small electric charge different on the

two ends of the water molecule. This charge causes the water molecules to line up and loosely connect producing surface tension. Surface tension is responsible for capillary action, which allows water and other substances to move through the roots of plants and through the tiny blood vessels in our bodies. Surface tension also allows insects to skate across the surface of water.

Water has a high specific heat. This means that water can absorb a lot of heat before it begins to get hot. The high specific heat of water also helps regulate the rate at which air changes temperature, which is why the temperature change between seasons is gradual rather than sudden, especially near the oceans. As water is heated, the increased movement of water causes the hydrogen bonds to bend and break. As the energy absorbed in these processes is not available to increase the kinetic energy of the water, it takes considerable heat to raise water's temperature. This heat is given out on cooling, buffering against changes in temperature. This is why the oceans

Some common words found in the essay are:
Earth Surface, Life Earth, Fitness Environment, Earth Water, surface tension, Lawrence Henderson, water molecules, water water, unique qualities, life earth, water molecules surface, unique qualities water, life earth surface, charged pole, dissolve water, universal solvent, specific heat, earth surface tension, qualities water,
Approximate Word count = 705
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)