What is it about water that makes it so critical to life? What are those hydrogen and oxygen atoms doing?

Question

I understand that all life needs it (mostly), but scientifically, what is it about such a simple molecule that makes it so important?

In: 4

Answer 1

Water molecules are strongly polar, with partial positive charges on the two hydrogens and a partial negative charge on the one oxygen. The shared electrons of the O-H bonds spend more time with the O than with the Hs.

As a result, water can form charge-based attractions with other polar molecules and ions. When there are many water molecules it can form a shell around each polar molecule and ion. These shells allow many, many substances to dissolve in water, and that’s critical to life as we know it. Water enables chemical reactions in living plants and animals.