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water
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
water rapids, Niagara Falls, Canada
The chemistry of water
polar bear on ice floe Diagram of the water cycle showing processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, infiltration, and groundwater flow between land, vegetation, surface water, and the ocean, with labeled arrows and color-coded soil moisture and groundwater zones. Hoover Dam Diagram showing the municipal water treatment process, with water flowing from a natural source through intake screens, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, and finally distribution as purified water, with waste removed at various stages. Diagram showing the formation of a polar covalent bond in a water molecule, with two hydrogen atoms bonding to one oxygen atom to form H2O, illustrating shared electrons and chemical reaction.
Which has a lower freezing point, salt water or fresh water?
Numerous water droplets of varying sizes scattered across a smooth, reflective flat surface.
splitting water
At a Glance
Lake Mead is seen in the distance behind a dead creosote bush in an area of dry, cracked earth that used to be underwater near where the Lake Mead Marina was once located on June 12, 2021 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
Comprehension Quiz: Water Scarcity
default image
water summary
Quizzes
water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)
Water and its Varying Forms
Metal and enamel pan of boiling water on stove. (boiling point; cooking; steam; cooking gas; non-electric)
Aitch-Two-Oh?
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
27 True-or-False Questions from Britannica’s Most Difficult Science Quizzes
Related Questions

water: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Steven S. Zumdahl
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

  • Fabio Azevedo

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Biochemical Properties of Water. Sep 18, 2026
Add new Web site: IOPscience - Journal of Physics: Conference Series - Bernal and the structure of water (PDF). Jul 24, 2026
Add new Web site: OpenStax - Biology 2e - Water. Apr 30, 2026
Replaced water cycle illustration. Sep 03, 2025
Questions and answers added. Feb 13, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Washington Pressbooks - Fundamentals of Climate Change - Water Burns: Moisture and Latent Heat. Oct 03, 2024
Add new Web site: Better Health Channel - Water – a vital nutrient. Sep 09, 2024
Add new Web site: Energy Education - Water. May 07, 2024
Add new Web site: USGS - Water Science School - pH and Water. Jan 25, 2024
Add new Web site: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - The Nutrition Source - Water. Jan 01, 2024
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Water, Hydration and Health. Sep 07, 2023
Add new Web site: USGS Water Science School - Surface Tension and Water. Dec 23, 2022
Add new Web site: Science Learning Hub - Water and ice. Jun 19, 2022
Add new Web site: USGS - Water Science School - Vapor Pressure and Water. May 23, 2022
New media added. Feb 02, 2021
Noted that water exists elsewhere in the cosmos. Nov 17, 2020
Corrected display issue. Oct 29, 2020
New media added. Jun 02, 2020
Changed "Nine different forms of ice" to "Eighteen different forms of ice" in the section Structures of ice. Aug 15, 2019
Add new Web site: Women's and Children's Health Network - Kids' Health - Water. Apr 18, 2019
Add new Web site: ThoughtCo. - Properties of Water. Oct 04, 2018
Add new Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Biochemical Properties of Water. May 30, 2018
Corrected display issue. Jan 24, 2018
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Water. Mar 30, 2017
Add new Web site: KidsGeo.com - Geography for Kids - What Is Water? Dec 20, 2016
Add new Web site: CoolKidFacts.com - Water Facts. Dec 16, 2016
Add new Web site: The Canadian Encyclopedia - Water. Aug 09, 2016
Media added. Apr 15, 2016
Added video. Mar 23, 2015
Discussion of colour of water added. Apr 26, 2013
Add new Web site: JewishEncyclopedia.com - Water. Jan 04, 2013
Add new Web site: Lenntech - Water Facts and Trivia. Jan 04, 2013
Add new Web site: Arkansas Geological Survey - Water. Jan 04, 2013
Add new Web site: India Parenting - Saving Water. Sep 14, 2012
Add new Web site: India Parenting - Water Facts. Sep 14, 2012
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids! - Water Facts. Mar 16, 2012
Add new Web site: KidsHealth - For Parents - Fluoride and Water. Jan 06, 2012
Added an image of water droplets on a nonpolar surface. Jul 12, 2011
Added new Web site: Science NetLinks - Water 1: Water and Ice. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: Science NetLinks - Water 3: Melting and Freezing. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: Science NetLinks - Water 3: Melting and Freezing. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: NASA - Climate Kids - Water. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: NASA - Climate Kids - Water. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: Science NetLinks - Water 1: Water and Ice. Mar 19, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Science - How Water Works. Dec 24, 2008
Added new Web site: Hyperphysics - Water. Sep 29, 2008
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Healthguide - Water In Diet. Sep 24, 2008
Article revised and updated. Aug 15, 2008
Added new Web site: Kent NGfL - Uses of Water. Aug 14, 2008
Added new Web site: Laleva - Water. Aug 14, 2008
Added new Web site: USGS Water Science School - Wastewater Treatment Water Use. Aug 14, 2008
Added new Web site: United States Geological Survey - Domestic water use. Aug 14, 2008
Added new Web site: The Canadian Encyclopedia - Water. Aug 13, 2008
Added new Web site: United States Geological Survey - Water properties. Apr 09, 2008
Added new Web site: The University of Arizona - Water Uses. Oct 29, 2007
Added new Web site: Kings Psychology Network - The Benefits and Effects of Water. Oct 29, 2007
Added new Web site: Lenntech - Drinking water production from surface water.
  • Gaurav Shukla
 Jun 08, 2007
Added new Web site: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - All the Water in the World. Apr 25, 2007
Added new Web site: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Case of the Mysterious Renters. Apr 25, 2007
Added new Web site: Official Site of Barwon Water, Victoria. Nov 07, 2006
Added new Web site: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency - Drinking Water Ground Water Kids' Stuff.
  • Gaurav Shukla
 Nov 01, 2006
Added new Web site: U.S. Geological Survey - Water Science for Schools. Oct 30, 2006
Added new Web site: USGS - Water Science for Schools. Sep 23, 2006
Added new Web site: None. Jun 13, 2006
Added new Web site: None. Jun 13, 2006
Added new Web site: Water, Water Everywhere... Get Wet, Investigate Water! Jun 05, 2006
Article revised. Nov 03, 2000
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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