Properties of water

Water ( H 2 O ) is the most abundant compound on Earth's surface, covering about 70 percent of the planet. In nature, water exists in liquid, solid, and gaseous states. It is in dynamic equilibrium between the liquid and gas states at standard temperature and pressure. At room temperature, it is a tasteless and odorless liquid, nearly colorless with a hint of blue. Many substances dissolve in water and it is commonly referred to as the universal solvent. Because of this, water in nature and in use is rarely pure and some of its properties may vary slightly from those of the pure substance. However, there are also many compounds that are essentially, if not completely, insoluble in water. Water is the only common substance found naturally in all three common states of matter and it is essential for all life on Earth.[4 ] Water usually makes up 55% to 78% of the human body.[5 ]

In keeping with the basic rules of chemical nomenclature, water would have a systematic name of dihydrogen monoxide,[6 ] but this is not among the names published by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry[7 ] and, rather than being used in a chemical context, the name is almost exclusively used as a humorous way to refer to water.