Question

What are some important uses of water, both in nature and in industry? What is the liquid range for water?

Short answer

Water is crucial both in nature and industry. In nature, it sustains life, regulates climate, contributes to erosion and sediment transport, and provides habitats for various organisms. In industry, water is essential for agriculture, power generation, manufacturing, and waste management. The liquid range for water, referring to the temperature range within which it exists as a liquid, is between \(0 ^{\circ}\) Celsius and \(100 ^{\circ}\) Celsius (or between \(32 ^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit and \(212 ^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit) under standard atmospheric pressure.

Step-by-step solution

Important uses of water in nature

Water plays a critical role in nature. Some of its important uses in natural processes include: 1. Sustaining life: Water is vital for the survival of all living organisms, as it is crucial for numerous biochemical reactions within cells. 2. Climate regulation: Water helps regulate Earth's climate by absorbing and distributing heat through processes such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. 3. Erosion and sediment transport: Water, in the form of rivers and oceans, is responsible for the shaping of Earth's landscape through erosion and transportation of sediments. 4. Acting as a habitat: Bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and wetlands provide important habitats for a wide variety of plants and animals.

Important uses of water in industry

Water is also essential for various industrial processes, including: 1. Agriculture: Irrigation is the primary use of water in the agricultural industry, enabling the growth of crops worldwide. 2. Power generation: Water is crucial for generating power in hydroelectric plants, as well as for cooling in nuclear and thermal power plants. 3. Manufacturing: Water is used in numerous manufacturing processes, such as cooling, cleaning, and as a solvent in chemical production. 4. Waste management: Water is critical in the treatment and disposal of wastewater generated from various industries.

Liquid range of water

The liquid range of water refers to the temperature range within which water exists in the liquid state. For pure water, this range is between its freezing point and boiling point. The freezing point of water is \(0 ^{\circ}\) Celsius (\(32 ^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit) and the boiling point of water is \(100 ^{\circ}\) Celsius (\(212 ^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit) under standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm or 101.3 kPa). Therefore, the liquid range for water is between \(0 ^{\circ}\) Celsius and \(100 ^{\circ}\) Celsius (or between \(32 ^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit and \(212 ^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit) under standard atmospheric pressure.