ABSTRACT
Water is essential for plant growth. All cells contain water as the solvent in which biochemical reactions take place and in which cell structures are maintained. Water shows hydrogen bonding (between electronegative oxygen and electropositive hydrogen) which means it is a liquid at temperatures common for plant growth. As it is polar, it is a good solvent for polar molecules like ions and charged organic molecules. The strong forces between water molecules (cohesion) give it several other key properties: it has a very high surface tension and adheres strongly to surfaces. It also has a high tensile strength, and is able to form columns under high tensions without breaking, for example in xylem.
