Water is a vital nutrient that is essential for almost all bodily functions. It is essential because it cannot be stored in any form in our body and has to be supplied fresh everyday. Our bodies are made up of up to 55% of water in adults and up to 75% in infants. Not consuming water everyday can lead to dehydration and cause major imbalances in our bodies.
Properties of Water
The chemical formula of water is H2O. It is a colourless, odourless and transparent substance that is the main constituent of Earth’s hydrosphere. The water shows continuous movement between the Earth and the atmosphere, and the phenomenon is known as the water cycle. It is an inorganic substance and is polar in nature. Water mostly exists in liquid form in rivers, seas, oceans and other water bodies. It is also found in solid and gaseous states by the process of phase transition.
Human Body and Water
Following are some of the points that water does in our body –
- It maintains the temperature of our body by aiding in sweating and respiration.
- It keeps the bloodstream liquid enough to flow easily in the blood vessels.
- It helps in excretion by processing the extra byproducts and electrolytes formed in our bodies.
- It helps in the lubrication of joints.
- It forms saliva.
- It is present as fluid around the brain, spinal cord and developing foetus and provides protection against physical trauma and injury.
- It helps in maintaining the moisturisation of the skin.
- It helps in carrying oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
Other Uses
- Water is used majorly by humans in agricultural practices for irrigation.
- It is also used as a scientific standard.
- Humans consume 5-7 litres of water everyday to maintain their bodily homeostasis.
- It is used for washing and bathing purposes.
- It is also used as a solvent and reactant in various chemical processes.
- Water is also used for generating power, hydroelectricity.
How Can We Save Water?
As essential water is for our existence, the malicious activities of humans are wiping off the water from this planet. We need to start utilising water conservatively and think of ways how we can save it for our future generations. Let us discuss some methods that are used to save water.
Water is very important for all living beings to carry out basic cellular activities. We humans cannot imagine living without water. A technique known as rain water harvesting is a method that is used to collect and store water that is falling from the rooftops or being rundown in open spaces and parks. This can be done by installing tanks, filters and conveyance systems at a particular location so that the water can be stored, filtered and transported from the place of collection to storage.
A dozen laws and regulations have been implemented by the government under the water act of 1974 to prevent the pollution and loss of water.
This sums up the importance of water. Stay tuned with BYJU’S Biology for more fun learning!
