Water

{{bronze}}
{{cquote|Where there is life, there is water.|||Hama, ''Avatar the Last Airbender'', episode ''The Puppetmaster''}}
[[File:Waterrotate.gif|thumb|upright|right|3-D model of H<sub>2</sub>O.]]{{Chemistry}}
'''Water''' ('''H<sub>2</sub>O'''), also known as “ice” when frozen,<ref> https://www.reddit.com/r/engrish/comments/aw1dok/fork_wortor/</ref> is a [[chemistry|chemical]] compound. Each molecule consists of two [[hydrogen]] [[atom]]s and one [[oxygen]] atom sharing covalent bonds. Its chemical name is dihydrogen monoxide. Water is fundamental for [[life]] as we know it to exist. Water is also one of the most abundant compounds in the [[universe]].

Given water's importance for life as we know it to exist, water has played a seminal role in the [[mythology|mythologies]] and [[religion]]s of peoples around the world since [[time]] [[deep time|immemorial]]. Unfortunately, those same properties also make water excellent [[woo]] material.

==Chemical properties==
[[File:Water.svg|thumb|upright|left|Schematic diagram of a water molecule. The dots represent valence electrons and the bars covalent bonds.]]
[[File:WaterIsPrecious.jpg|thumb|upright|left|But when you back up a bit, it looks like this.]]
Water is an excellent solvent and it is often referred to as the "universal solvent" or even the "solvent of life". The water [[molecule]]'s structure is responsible for this, since the [[electron]]s are unevenly distributed throughout the molecule. One end of the molecule with greater electron density is slightly negative and the other end is slightly positive. Water and related compounds are said to be "polar". Water generally dissolves other substances that are also polar.

Non-polar substances, like [[oil]], will not dissolve in water. Water's polar nature explains many of its properties, some of them essential for life as we know it, like its (relatively) high melting and boiling points, high surface tension, and that it expands while freezing (in other words, unlike many other substances, solid water ([[snow|ice]]) is less dense than liquid water).

Non-polar substances can be made to be soluble in water by using detergents (also called surfactants) that are large molecules with a polar end and a non-polar end. The polar end is attracted to water molecules and the non-polar end to the non-polar greasy substances.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20010423101342/http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00045.htm Ask a Scientist]" - Retrieved from the [[Internet Archive|Archive]]</ref>

==Water in the Universe==
[[File:Pluto by LORRI and Ralph, 13 July 2015.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Pluto has a heart of ice.]]

[[Carbon]], [[hydrogen]], [[oxygen]], and {{wpl|nitrogen}} are the most common elements in the cosmos. Unsurprisingly, water is the most abundant compound in the universe,<ref>[https://jencrazyscience.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/water-most-abundant-compound-in-universe.html Water - The most abundant compound in the Universe - Science Is Life]</ref> and can be found everywhere: from some craters of the polar regions of the [[Moon]] to a very distant [[quasar]].<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/universe20110722.html Astronomers Find Largest, Most Distant Reservoir of Water]</ref> As water is essential for life as we know it, finding water outside of [[Earth]] is an important topic of research in [[astrobiology]]. Until recently, Earth was the only place of the Universe where ''liquid'' water had been ''observed''. This has changed with the discovery of subglacial lakes beneath the [[Mars|Martian]] south pole.<ref>{{cite journal |title= Radar evidence of subglacial liquid water on Mars |journal= Science |volume= 361 |issue= 6401 |pages= 490–493 |date= 25 July 2018 |doi= 10.1126/science.aar7268 |arxiv=2004.04587  |pmid= 30045881 |id= eaar7268 |last1= Seu |first1= R. |last2= Restano |first2= M. |last3= Noschese |first3= R. |last4= Nenna |first4= C. |last5= Mitri |first5= G. |last6= Masdea |first6= A. |last7= Martufi |first7= R. |last8= Giuppi |first8= S. |last9= Frigeri |first9= A. |last10= Cassenti |first10= F. |last11= Cartacci |first11= M. |last12= Soldovieri |first12= F. |last13= Pajola |first13= M. |last14= Mattei |first14= E. |last15= Flamini |first15= E. |last16= Paolo |first16= F. Di |last17= Cosciotti |first17= B. |last18= Coradini |first18= M. |last19= Cicchetti |first19= A. |last20= Pettinelli |first20= E. |last21= Lauro |first21= S. E. |last22= Orosei |first22= R. |bibcode= 2018Sci...361..490O |hdl= 11573/1148029 |doi-access= free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Lauro, Sebastian Emanuel |display-authors=etal |title=Multiple subglacial water bodies below the south pole of Mars unveiled by new MARSIS data |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1200-6 |date=28 September 2020 |journal=Nature Astronomy |volume=5 |pages=63–70 |doi=10.1038/s41550-020-1200-6 |arxiv=2010.00870 |bibcode=2021NatAs...5...63L |s2cid=222125007 |access-date=25 November 2022 }}</ref>

[[NASA]] probe ''Cassini'' has found strong evidence for the presence of a subsurface ocean beneath the icy surface of {{wpl|Enceladus (moon)|Enceladus|,}} one of [[Saturn]]'s moons.<ref>"[https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/cassini-finds-global-ocean-in-saturns-moon-enceladus/ ''Cassini'' finds global ocean] in Saturn's moon Enceladus" - NASA</ref> Enceladus has been found to have {{wpl|hydrothermal vent|hydrothermal vents|.}}<ref>
{{cite journal |pmid=28408597 |year=2017 | last1=Waite | first1=Jack Hunter Jr. |title=Cassini finds molecular hydrogen in the Enceladus plume: Evidence for hydrothermal processes |journal=Science |volume=356 |issue=6334 |pages=155–159 |last2=Glein |first2=C. R. |last3=Perryman |first3=R. S. |last4=Teolis |first4=Ben D. |last5=Magee |first5=B. A. |last6=Miller |first6=G. |last7=Grimes |first7=J. |last8=Perry |first8=M. E. |last9=Miller |first9=K. E. |last10=Bouquet |first10=A. |last11=Lunine |first11=Jonathan I. |last12=Brockwell |first12=T. |last13=Bolton |first13=S. J. |doi=10.1126/science.aai8703 |bibcode=2017Sci...356..155W |doi-access=free }}</ref> There is also strong evidence that [[Jupiter]]'s moon Europa has liquid oceans under its surface of solid ice.<ref>[https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons/europa/in-depth/ Europa], ''NASA''</ref>

Traditional [[scientific consensus|consensus]] holds that Mars' oceans were evaporated by an increasingly strong [[solar]] wind over billions of years, as the planet's [[gravity]] was not strong enough to hold on to its oceans. A 2021 study, however, indicates that Mars' water didn't disappear into the cosmic void; instead, it's been sequestered away into the Martian crust.<ref>"[https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/new-study-challenges-long-held-theory-of-fate-of-mars-water New study challenges long held theory of fate of Mars' water]" - JPL press release</ref>

Water has been detected in the discs of newly born [[exoplanet|solar systems]], and in the molecular clouds present in interstellar space.<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/the-solar-system-and-beyond-is-awash-in-water/ The Solar System and beyond is awash in water]" - JPL"</ref> Water vapor has also been detected in the atmosphere of an extrasolar [[gas giant]].<ref name="watervaporsmith">[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/water-vapor-detected-atmosphere-exoplanet-habitable-zone-180973100/ Water vapor detected in the atmosphere of an exoplanet in the habitable zone]" - ''Smithsonian Magazine''</ref> The exoplanet in question is located in the [[habitable zone]] of its host star, but isn't suspected to have life (as we know it) because life kind of has a hard time developing on non-terrestrial worlds. However, said exoplanet is suspected to have clouds of water vapor, and perhaps even [[rain]].<ref name="watervaporsmith" />

[[Pluto]] is also suspected to have a possible subterranean ocean of liquid water.<ref name="astromagazine">"[https://astronomy.com/news/2020/06/pluto-has-likely-maintained-an-underground-liquid-ocean-for-billions-of-years Pluto has likely maintained an underground liquid ocean for billions of years]" - ''Astronomy Magazine''</ref> The reason for this being is that Pluto's surface shows features concordant with [[geological]] activity. If Pluto were a dead, cold hulk from the start, we'd expect the surface of Pluto to be a lot more compressed, especially with material dating back to the formation of the Solar System. We don't see that compression.<ref name="astromagazine" /> What we instead see is that Pluto was formed hot and then slowly froze over time, expanding outward as it froze. Water expands when it freezes. So did Pluto. Ergo, Pluto probably had a mantle of liquid water early in its history, and possibly still does so today.<ref name="astromagazine" /> 

Pluto's moon Charon is also suspected to have possessed a subsurface ocean at some point. The reason this is suspected is because Charon shares the same "expanding ice" feature that Pluto does.<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-s-hulk-like-moon-charon-a-possible-ancient-ocean/ Pluto's hulk like moon Charon] - a possible ancient ocean? - [[NASA]]</ref> The Ice Belt has a lot of slush, it seems.

Ganymede, one of the [[Galilean]] moons of Jupiter, is also (strongly) suspected to have a subsurface ocean. The amount of water in said ocean is thought to surpass the total water content of the Earth's hydrosphere.<ref name="nasagany">[https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons/ganymede/in-depth/ In Depth - Ganymede] - NASA</ref> Ganymede is the only moon known to possess its own magnetic field. Given that Ganymede's magnetic field interacts with Jupiter's magnetic field, it has allowed scientists to get some insight into the composition of Ganymede's interior.<ref name="nasagany" />{{efn|Ganymede's magnetic field lies within Jupiter's magnetic field. When Jupiter's magnetic field changes, Ganymede's field changes also. The aurorae "rock" each other, in a sense.}} The scientists hypothesized that if Ganymede possessed a saltwater ocean, Jupiter's magnetic field would create a secondary field that would effectively counter Jupiter's field. What they found is that the ocean reacts so strongly to Jupiter's magnetic field that it reduces the "rocking" of Jupiter's and Ganymede's respective aurorae by a full 2 degrees, instead of the [[null hypothesis|expected]] 6 degrees if the ocean was not present.<ref>"{{wpl|Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble}} observations [https://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/march/nasa-s-hubble-observations-suggest-underground-ocean-on-jupiters-largest-moon suggest] underground ocean on Jupiter's largest moon" - NASA</ref> Ganymede is also suspected to harbor multiple flayers of oceans and ice, overlaying each other like stratified sediment.<ref name="ganyclub">"[https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/ganymede-may-harbor-club-sandwich-of-oceans-and-ice Ganymede may harbor 'club sandwich' of oceans and ice]" - NASA</ref>

==Water and life==
Many [[astrobiologist]]s consider the presence of liquid water to be a necessary condition for the [[abiogenesis|development]] of [[life]]. While this is a bit earth-centric, it is quite likely true for [[biochemistry|chemical]] life as we are familiar with it. The existence of liquid water on habitable worlds is one of the key variables of the [[Drake equation]].

Regarding Enceladus, the aforementioned hydrothermal activity possibly drives complex chemistry, which has implications for the presence of [[extraterrestrial]] life on Enceladus.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Postberg, Frank |display-authors=etal |title=Macromolecular organic compounds from the depths of Enceladus |date=June 27, 2018 |journal=''Nature'' |volume=558 |issue=7711 |pages=564–568 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0246-4 |pmid=29950623 |pmc=6027964 |bibcode=2018Natur.558..564P }}</ref> Studies have been done which show that Enceladus' hydrothermal vents are potentially habitable for terrestrial hydrothermal vent microorganisms.<ref name="Taubner">{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1038/s41467-018-02876-y| issn = 2041-1723| volume = 9| issue = 1| pages = 748| last1 = Taubner| first1 = Ruth-Sophie| last2 = Pappenreiter| first2 = Patricia| last3 = Zwicker| first3 = Jennifer| last4 = Smrzka| first4 = Daniel| last5 = Pruckner| first5 = Christian| last6 = Kolar| first6 = Philipp| last7 = Bernacchi| first7 = Sébastien| last8 = Seifert| first8 = Arne H.| last9 = Krajete| first9 = Alexander| last10 = Bach| first10 = Wolfgang| last11 = Peckmann| first11 = Jörn| last12 = Paulik| first12 = Christian| last13 = Firneis| first13 = Maria G.| last14 = Schleper| first14 = Christa| last15 = Rittmann| first15 = Simon K.-M. R.| title = Biological methane production under putative Enceladus-like conditions| journal = Nature Communications| date = 2018-02-27| pmid = 29487311| pmc = 5829080| bibcode = 2018NatCo...9..748T}}</ref> The presence of methane detected within Enceladus' plumes could have been generated by hypothetical organisms dwelling within and around Enceladus' hydrothermal vents.<ref name="Taubner" />

Studies have concluded that the ancient water on Mars may have been too [[salt|saline]] for most comparable terrestrial life to withstand.<ref>{{cite journal |bibcode=2008Sci...320.1204T |title=Water Activity and the Challenge for Life on Early Mars |last1=Tosca |first1=Nicholas J. |last2=Knoll |first2=Andrew H. |last3=McLennan |first3=Scott M. |volume=320 |date=2008 |pages=1204–7 |journal=Science |doi=10.1126/science.1155432 |pmid=18511686 |issue=5880|s2cid=27253871 }}</ref>

Ganymede's oceans are also thought to interact with the geology of Ganymede, meaning that Ganymede's oceans are chemically active.<ref name="nasagany" /> It is hypothesized that life on Earth arose out of complex chemistry occurring at hydrothermal vents.<ref>{{cite journal|last 1=Martin|first 1=William|last 2=Baross|first 2=John|last 3=Kelly|first 3=Deborah|last 4=Russel|first 4=Michael|date=2008|title=Hydrothermal vents and the origin of life|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro1991|journal=Nature Reviews Microbiology|doi=10.1038/nrmicro1991|access date=12/3/2022}}</ref> If Ganymede possesses hydrothermal vents, this may indicate prebiotic chemistry is occurring on Ganymede.<ref name="ganyclub" />

==Water on Earth==
On [[Earth]], water exists naturally in all three states, as [[snow|ice]], liquid water, and water vapor. The water cycle drives most of our weather, by transporting large amounts of [[renewable energy|energy]] received from the sun into the atmosphere, where it can then move from place to place, often forming large cyclonic patterns due to the Earth's rotation.<ref>[https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/ocean-earth-system/ocean-water-cycle Introduction to the water cycle] by NASA</ref>

Once upon a time, our [[planet]] was covered by a global [[ocean]].<ref>"[https://www.ibtimes.com/earth-was-once-waterworld-covered-global-ocean-scientists-reveal-2932622 Earth was once a waterworld]" - ''International Business Times''</ref> If we were around back then, we probably would've called this rock "Water" and not "Earth".

How Earth got water is not fully determined. The dominant hypotheses suggest that meteorites or [[comets]] littered Earth with liquid water or otherwise helped form the water, but an August 2020 study published in ''Science'' suggests that at least a portion of the water may have already formed during Earth's building process, as the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio in common meteorites were similar to the ratio inside Earth.<ref>Pelsier, A. (August 28, 2020). The origins of water. ''Science'', 369(6507), p1058. [[doi:10.1126/science.abc1338]]</ref>

==Water and religion==
[[File:El Greco 06.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Baptism]] in water is a common ritual in many [[religion]]s.]]
Water has long been recognized as important for life to exist. This ancient knowledge is reflected in [[humanity]]'s myths and legends.<ref>Larbi Bouguerra, Mohamed (2005). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130103144529/http://www.institut.veolia.org/en/cahiers/water-symbolism/ Water: Symbolism and Culture]''. Institut Veolia Environment.</ref> Water has also been given a "[[cleanse|cleansing]]" nature, and rituals have been developed to "cleanse" the person of their "[[sin]]". [[Christianity]], for instance, has the ritual of [[baptism]], wherein a new convert or newborn is doused in "[[holy water]]" to signify that they are freed from the "taint" of [[original sin]] and "[[born again]]" under [[Christ]]'s [[salvation|saving]] grace.<ref>"[https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-baptism-700654 What is baptism?]" - "Learn Religions.com"</ref> Whether or not this ritual is effective cannot be [[falsifiability|tested]] at the current time.

[[Islam]] also holds water to be [[sacred]]. Gifting water is considered to be the most blessed act of [[charity]] in Islam.<ref name="islamichelp">"[https://www.islamichelp.org.uk/media-centre/news/the-importance-of-water-in-islam/ The importance of water in Islam]" - Islamic Help</ref> Water is used as a cleansing agent in ''wudu'', or {{wpl|ablution||.}}<ref name="islamichelp" />

==Pseudoscience/misinformation==
{{main|Water woo}}
As water has historically been one of the most important substances to humanity, it makes sense that a lot of [[myth]]s, misconceptions, and even [[conspiracy theories]] would eventually arise regarding water. However, it became particularly bad with the advent of [[capitalism]], as unscrupulous businessmen wanted to find ways to sell something for loads of money that most people in the developed world can virtually get for free.<ref>"[https://mronline.org/2019/10/11/under-capitalism-even-water-is-a-tool-of-oppression/ Under capitalism even water is a tool of oppression]" - ''Monthly Review''</ref> As a general rule of thumb, unless your tap water is contaminated (e.g. the [[Flint water crisis]]), it's best to just drink tap water.

===Bottled water===
{{main|Bottled water}}
For some reason, there is a common perception that bottled water is cleaner or tastier than the water you can get from the tap. In reality, the differences between them are minimal, and tap water is often safer because it is more strictly regulated, meaning that for the most part, bottled water is just a [[scam]] that results in unnecessary plastic pollution. In fact, oftentimes bottled water really is just tap water (Pepsi's Aquafina is an infamous case), and even when it isn't, there are concerns with private companies like [[Nestlé]] unsustainably harvesting water that should belong to the local communities and environments.<ref>[https://www.mashed.com/717227/nestles-water-controversy-explained/ Nestle's Water Controversy, Explained], Hope Ngo, ''Mashed'' 27 December 2021</ref>

===Specialized water===
There are various types of treated water, such as [[hydrogen water]], [[oxygen therapy#Oxygenated water|oxygenated water]], [[magnetic water treatment|magnetic-treated water]], and [[Kabbalah water]] that are often advertised as sorts of [[miracle cure]]s that are so much healthier than regular water. Needless to say, in most cases you will get the same result drinking water from the tap. [[Raw water]] is particularly stupid, as it's just water that hasn't been treated for pathogens and other contaminants, making it ridiculously unsafe to drink.

===Homeopathy===
{{main|Homeopathy|Homeopathy|Water memory}}
Homeopathy is based on the "principles" that something that causes symptoms of a disease can be used to treat it and diluting a solution makes it stronger. Needless to say, that is the ''opposite'' of how things work in reality. Particularly important to homeopathy is the idea that water can "remember" the various molecules that it used to have in it.<ref>[https://www.livescience.com/61273-homeopathy-chemistry-water-memory.html What is 'water memory']" - Live Science</ref> If this was true, it would make basically anything a homeopathy ''[[panacea]]''.

===Fluoridation===
{{main|Water fluoridation}}
Fluoride salts are often added to tap water in order to improve the dental health of the general public. This issue has been studied for decades, and there is an overwhelming consensus among public health experts that it is safe;<ref>[https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/index.html CDC primer on water fluoridation]</ref> despite this, many [[conspiracy theorists]] are virulently opposed to water fluoridation.

===Dihydrogen monoxide===
[[Image:dhmok.gif|thumb|right|200px|Somebody has to ''do something!!'']]
{{cquote|''Dihydrogen monoxide, or, "How I learned to use technical jargon to feel self-superior and get a cheap laugh at the expense of others."''}}
[[Fun:Dihydrogen monoxide|Dihydrogen monoxide]] (frequently abbreviated ''DHMO'') is an 
incredibly dangerous [[chemical]] that must be banned to [[Think of the children|save the children]]
 alternative name for water based on its chemical composition. The use of technical jargon lends an air of danger to an everyday substance. One can then list a range of harmful effects associated with the chemical, playing upon the listeners' [[chemophobia]], thus leading people to believe that dihydrogen monoxide poses a threat to public safety and should be banned. People who [[Poe's Law|fall for this]] can then be called 
gullible
 misguided. Great hilarity will then ensue.<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dangers-dihydrogen-monoxide/ Snopes]</ref> 

There is actually an important point to be made about the dihydrogen monoxide stunt. As the above shows, it can be tough to tell the difference between real [[science]] and [[bullshit|a deliberate hoax]]. Often, we have to take accredited [[scientist]]s at their word when they tell us about complicated topics such as [[black hole]]s, [[quantum mechanics]], [[brain physiology]], or any number of other topics that the lay person probably does not really understand. People generally hold scientists in high regard. Alas, the scientifically illiterate often "reason", if one can call it such, according to [[fear, uncertainty, and doubt]]. Even intelligent people are sometimes taken in and hilarity may not be justified. This may help explain why [[inverse stopped clock|otherwise smart people]] can fall for [[pseudoscience]].

{{fun|Dihydrogen monoxide}}

==See also==
*[[Masaru Emoto]]

==Notes==

{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Chemicals]]
[[Category:Climatology]]
[[Category:Drink]]
[[Category:Geology]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Toxins]]
[[Category:Water woo|*]]

Categories: Astronomy, Biology, Chemicals, Climatology, Drink, Geology, Science, Toxins, Water woo