Structure

• Water, or H2O, consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Each hydrogen atom shares a pair of electrons with the oxygen atom. The oxygen atom has four pairs of electrons so two pairs are unshared. The unshared electrons produce a partial negative charge while the shared electrons generate a partial positive charge. The attraction between the two charges creates what is known as a hydrogen bond. This hydrogen bond gives water its polar structure.
  
  

Freezing and Boiling Point

• A substance's freezing and boiling point determines the temperature range in which it remains a liquid. A wide temperature range makes water a liquid most of the time. The polar structure of water gives it a freezing point of 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Its structure gives it a high boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to remain a liquid at some high temperatures.
  
  

Heat Vaporization

• Heat vaporization refers to the amount of heat necessary to change water from a liquid into a gas. This property becomes significant in human activities such as sweating. The more heat it takes to vaporize the liquid sweat the more the body is cooled. Water's polar structure that creates a high heat vaporization means that the process of sweating removes large amounts of heat thus keeping the body cool in high temperatures.
  
  

Specific Heat

• Specific heat refers to the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance. Due to the polar structure of water, water displays a high specific heat. This difficulty in raising the temperature of water provides benefits to living organisms by protecting them from rapid temperature changes. The highest specific heat for any common substance is found in water, according to Carl R. Nave of Georgia State University.