2003NSIII　「自然の化学的基礎」　

＊Information I would like to emphasize to High School students who donot believe water to be an important source in our life.

Water is made of such simple structure, yet its abundance and variety of forms is more than enthralling and breath taking. It is merely a fascinating substance that is extremely vital in the daily lives of living beings; including our very existence to thrive our thirst, provide hygiene, and much more. Yet what I would like to briefly mention, in the latter half of this essay on the wonders of water is of the less obvious factor this molecule contribute in our lives; the evolution of life. Our bodies which are determined by DNA (deoxy-ribonucleic acid) interlink with the existence of water and will not exist without it. Thus I would like to put emphasis on the importance of water in both the simple and the more unknown side which affect all living beings on the planet.

　Firstly, we cannot live without water in the environment. There are water molecules in the air in the form of gas that we inhale in every second of our lives. People take water as a liquid substance and of solid substance when quenching their thirsts. I believe that we all take water for granted as we believe that there is ample water on this planet in seas and oceans, and is most unlikely that we will run out of it. Yet, this is one misconception that must be abolished and corrected. The oceans and seas do not provide us the water that we need on daily basis as they are not purified for us to have use with them. Its impurity is obvious from the salty taste and the pain we often receive when going into the sea with an injury. The water we have access to through taps and pet bottles are usually from the rivers, mountains and reservoirs. These waters have high potential of running out despite the large quantity we imagine them to be stored in. The predicament comes from the fact that the populations of people using these waters are extremely large and the lack of savings and care they give for, it is extremely small. Yet, there still is ignorance toward preserving water, which gives rise to the environmental problems we face today.

　 So what will happen if we drink water from sea when we run out of purified water? The answer to that is death. If out of thirst we continue to drink sea water only, it will play an opposite effect and could kill us as there is too much NaCl (Sodium Chloride or salt) and other substances that will dehydrate our bodies. Sea water does not only dehydrate the inside of our bodies but the outside as well. The skin will parch and will cause faster appearances of wrinkles. Thus, purified water is an essential substance in our lives and we cannot underestimate its importance just because of the amount that lies out in oceans and seas in large quantities.

Hygiene is another important aspect as to why water is so important in our lives. Water may be seen as too simple and not ﾒspecialﾓ as there is no odor or color. Yet, what will we do without some sort of liquid that does not have odor or color? Will we feel clean after taking a shower of colored perfumed water? The smell may be overwhelming and could nauseate us, and the colors will most likely not cleanse our bodies. Water is also necessary to clean objects and places as it will wash away growing bacteria and prevent diseases from spreading. Bad smell can also be washed away by cleaning the objects or places with water. Thus once again water, as a simple substance is tremendously important to us in the hygienic aspect of life as well.

　　All water molecules are made of two different types of elements; one being hydrogen and the other oxygen. The oxygen atom is bonded to two small hydrogen atoms, and the central oxygen atom becomes more negatively charged and consequently, the hydrogen atoms have a vestigial positive charge. The resulting distribution of charge of water molecule is of both; positive and negative, which gives water its extraordinary properties. I will not go into too much detail of the structure of water, but it is important to note the configuration of this molecule as this structure makes water so fascinating and different from other molecules and allows it to bond in a specific way.

　　The structure of water molecules allows one water molecule to stick to another water molecule, and the bond between each of the water mo　lecules is called Hydrogen Bond. It is one of the most important intermolecular links in the world, because it affects the range from the operation of the genetic code, DNA and the many properties of water. DNA will not exist without the existence of water as all biochemical reactions happen in a solution, and if that solution becomes too highly concentrated with salt, all the machinery that makes DNA, makes and folds proteins, and regenerates energy to power the cell stops working. Hence, it is not wrong for us to say that water makes us and helps us live. On the left is a picture of the DNA double helix, two DNA strands coiled together as it exists in our bodies this way. The very thing that enables the DNA strands to be in a helix state is the Hydrogen Bond. Water once again plays a vital role in our bodily system.

　　There are so much more to water that makes it more important despite its simple structure, commonness, lack of color and smell. I am most eager to mention this endless properties and wonders of water as it never fails to amaze me as there always seem to be something new. Water, I believe have its own life, its own breath as there are so many aspects and roles to this very molecule. Although the information of water playing a vital role with the very existence of DNA seem more important compared to others mentioned, I would like to denote that all pleasure and the use water brings are just as important and necessary to the living being. However, I emphasized on DNA because without the very existence of DNA, we as living beings will not have existed in the first place. Yet with our existence, water is still necessary in our very survival today.

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