Water (data page)

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/water-data-page

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the density anomaly?Solid phase (ice) is less dense than the liquid phase
2. What is the specific heat capacity?Exceptionally high, contributing to climate moderation and thermal regulation in organisms
3. Where does the water on Earth come from?Water comes from icy comets and asteroids that hit Earth early, plus water released from volcanoes inside the planet.
4. Why is water special for life?Water is special because its molecules stick together with hydrogen bonds, making it good at keeping temperatures steady, helping plants move water, and letting life’s chemistry happen.

Hydrogen Bonding: A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an atom in another molecule.
Thermophysical Properties: Quantitative data describing the thermal and physical behavior of substances under varying conditions.
Hydrological Cycle: The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.