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Chemistry · Ch 9 — Hydrogen

Water

9.6

Water

Water on Earth

Water makes up a major share of all living matter — roughly 65% of the human body, and as much as 95% in some plants — making it essential to life. It is also an outstanding solvent. Yet its distribution across the planet is far from uniform, as the table below shows.

Table 9.2 — Estimated World Water Supply

Source% of Total
Oceans97.33
Saline lakes and inland seas0.008
Polar ice and glaciers2.04
Ground water0.61
Lakes0.009
Soil moisture0.005
Atmospheric water vapour0.001
Rivers0.0001
Table 9.2Estimated World Water Supply
Source% of Total
Oceans97.33
Saline lakes and inland seas0.008
Polar ice and glaciers2.04
Ground water0.61
Lakes0.009
Soil moisture0.005
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