ABSTRACT
Both the strong covalent and the weak hydro - gen bonds are important properties of water, and the latter in particular make water unusual in its nature. The former means that it is very difficult to force apart the hydrogen and oxygen atoms within water molecules, which is why water is so prevalent on the planet and has not disappeared. The latter means that the water molecules them - selves can move between one another rela tively easily, meaning that it is highly mobile, enabling it to flow rapidly and allowing materials (e.g. fish, people, ships, plastic bags, excrement) to pass through it easily. The hydro gen bonds also enable water to act as an excellent solvent, as the mol - ecules can attach to other compounds, enabling them to be taken up into solution (see below). Finally, the hydrogen bonds mean that water is present as a liquid over most parts of the planet’s surface. If it were not for these bonds, water would boil at -80°C rather than 100°C.
