THE CRA PERSPECTIVE • SCIENCE EXPLAINED How Is Water Different from Other Liquids? The extraordinary science behind an ordinary substance—and why life on Earth depends on its unusual properties. Water looks simple, but its molecular behaviour makes it one of the most extraordinary substances on Earth. Water is one of the most familiar liquids in our lives. We drink it, cook with it, wash with it and depend on it every day. Yet, from a scientific point of view, water behaves in ways that make it remarkably different from most other liquids. Think about a glass of water with ice cubes floating on top. Why does ice float instead of sinking? Why can a tiny insect stand on the surface of a pond? Why do oceans absorb enormous quantities of heat without experiencing equally dramatic temperature changes? Why does water take so much energy to boil, and why can it dissolve ordinary table salt when many other liquids canno...
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