What makes water so different from other small molecules that have a similar mass, such as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), all gases?
Answer
a) Water is the "universal solvent"; it has the ability to dissolve everything.
b) Water can form very strong ion-ion bonds with itself, making it a liquid despite its small mass.
c) Water is ubiquitous on earth and in our bodies. It is a fundamental part of nature.
d) Water has the ability to form strong hydrogen bonds to itself.