ABSTRACT
With the growing shortage of drinking water in many developing areas, increasing use has had to be made of aquifers containing nonpotable water. The impacts of natural and synthetic solutes in water are addressed from the standpoint of industrial use and drinking-water supply. The covalent bond of a water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms with a net positive charge and an oxygen atom with a net negative charge. The exceptional dissolving power of water may be attributed to its polar structure which causes water to behave in a way that is analogous to a bar magnet. The phenomenon whereby water molecules are attracted to each other is referred to as the hydrogen bonding of water. The hydrogen bonding of water molecules accounts for the cohesion of water and for its relatively high boiling point and melting point. Hydrogen bonding also serves in part as a means of water taking substances into solution.
