But it just so happens that the energy of the combination is just above an oxygen resonance, which is thus out of reach. In either case, carbon would be very rare and life itself rare or nonexistent. Without these compounds, there would be no higher animal life, since such an efficient method of energy storage is needed for mobility. Yet only phosphorus, of all the elements, has this capability. It looks like phosphorus was designed for this purpose.
Water is at least as unusual as carbon or phosphorus.
However, water forms combinations of two or three water molecules loosely joined together, so that actually it is a liquid at these temperatures. As a liquid it is the basic fluid of animal blood, tree sap and cell plasma. Yet when water evaporates, it no longer forms combinations. This allows it to diffuse in the atmosphere so it doesn't stifle life by lying on the earth's surface as an unbreathable gas. Water is also a universal solvent, dissolving the necessary solid chemicals so they can circulate in the bloodstream, plant sap, and living cells.