How do the chemical properties of water have a profound impact on all life on Earth?

Answer 1

The polar structure of water makes it an excellent solvent. It is also a high dielectric constant (shielding of ions). It forms hydrogen bonds with itself which increases the boiling point and the bent structure prevents close packing of water in ice formation. This is why ice floats, if it didn't it would sink to the bottom of oceans and lakes and crush what is under it.

Answer 2

Water has some interesting properties.
1. Water is polar, meaning that water molecules have a positive end and a negative end. This makes water molecules tend to stick to each other. Polarity allows water to climb up through thin tubes, helping water go up through the xylem vessels in plants. Polarity gives water surface tension, allowing small insects to walk on top of the water in lakes. Polarity helps water dissolve substances because the water can pull on parts of molecules with opposite charges.
2. Water resists temperature change. This characteristic provides a more stable environment for aquatic organisms and helps moderate the Earth's temperature during different times of day. It also helps organisms maintain a more steady temperature within their bodies since bodies are mostly made of water.
3. Water expands when it freezes. This is important to life on Earth because it means that water freezes on the top of a river, pond, or lake first, and the habitat below the ice is maintained as liquid water. It's also important because water freezes in the cracks of rocks and breaks the rocks into little pieces to help form soil. Water freezing inside cells usually kills the cells. That's not a positive, but it's certainly an impact.