Water chemistry

Water is the most abundant chemical substance on Earth covering over 70% of Earth's surface. It occurs in form of water vapor in the atmosphere and this may collect as cloud and later come drop to the Earth in form of rain. It is also present below the Earth.

Water has a very simple atomic structure. This structure consist of two hydrogen (H₂) and one oxygen (O) atom (H₂O) bound by covalent bond. The nature of water atomic structure cause its molecules to have a unique electrochemical properties.

Sources of water

Sources of natural the water Include rain water, spring water, well water, river water, lake Water and sea water while sources of treated water include distilled water, pipe borne water and chlorinated water

Types of Natural Water

There are four major types of natural;

River water :

River water are used extensively for sewage disposal. River water contains a lot dissolved air, mineral salt bacteria and organic remains. It is dirty and need to be purified especially before drinking

Rain water :

This is purest form of natural water because it formed as a result of the Condemnation of water vapor in the atmosphere. Rain water contains small impurities like gas such as CO₂ from the air and also dust particles in the air. Dissolved oxygen and nitrogen will always be present in rain water. After electric storms during which oxygen and nitrogen react to form oxides of nitrogen rain water may actually dilute solution of trioxonitrate (v) acid.

Spring water :

Spring water is purer than river water. It contains a Considerable amount of mineral salt but very little suspended impurities such as dust and bacteria it is good for drinking.

Sea water :

This is the most impure form of natural water because polluted water is Consistently flowing into it and at the time, purer water is constantly leaving through evaporation the main inorganic metallic salt present in sea water is sodium chloride but magnesium, Calcium and potassium salt are also present of solid impurities in sea water, the most important ones are calcium tetraoxosulphate (IX) and Calcium hydrogen trioxocarbonate (iv)

Wate Pollution

Water pollution is the introduction of unwanted materials into the water bodies or the indescriminate dumping of solid and liquid waste into water bodies. This is why treatment of water before use is vital to our Health.

The common water pollutants are

1. Refuse and Sewage.
2. Industrial and agriccutural waste
3. Crude oil spills
4. Thermal pollution (use of water for cooling process)

BENEFIT AND USES OF WATER.

1. Water is used as a universal solvent in most chemical process.
2. Water is an essential component for the effective functioning of our body.
3. Approximately 50 to 70% of our body mass Is made up water including our skin, tissues cells and the organs.
4. Water remove toxins and waste product from the body thereby Cleansing it.
5. Water is required to process all the nutrient from the food we eat and carry the assimilated nutrient to cells by circulating through the lymphatic system.
6. Lack of water can cause constipation, asthma, alergy, hypertension, severe headache.
7. Water is used in dams to supply electricity (hydroelectric power).
8. Water is used for agricultural farming process and activities e.g irrigation, watering ornamental plants, gardening, fishing and livestock activities.
9. Water is life and essential for all domestic activities such as bathing, cooking.
10. Water is used for transportation of both human and Cargos in riverine area.
11. Water is used for sporting and recreational activities e.g boating, swimming, beaches.
12. Water is used in industrial processes e.g mining, manufacturing of product.