Felix Franks 
Water 
A Matrix of Life

Through the ages, water has been the inspiration of poets, painters, composers and philosophers. Today however, water is perceived as a commodity, with little thought for its role in influencing chemical reactions and shaping our terrestrial environment to make it fit for life. Water 2nd Edition is an update and extension of the RSC paperback first published in 1983. This book discusses current scientific knowledge of water: its remarkable properties, its influence on dissolved substances and its usually neglected but controlling role in the life sciences and ecology. With emphasis on developments over the last two decades, attention is drawn to important issues such as water quality, usage, economics and politics.

Spis treści

Origin and Distribution of Water in the Ecosphere: Water and Prehistoric Life; Structure of the Water Molecule and the Nature of the Hydrogen Bond in Water; Physical Properties of Liquid Water; Crystalline Water; The Structure of Liquid Water; Aqueous Solutions of 'Simple’ Molecules; Aqueous Solutions of Electrolytes; Aqueous Solutions of Polar Molecules; Chemical Reactions in Aqueous Solutions; Hydration and the Molecules of Life; Water in the Chemistry and Physics of Life; 'Unstable’ Water; Supersaturated and Solid Aqueous Solutions; Water Availability, Usage and Quality; Economics and Politics; Summary and Prognosis; Subject Index.