Write the properties of water.

Explanation

Water is one of the main agents in Pedogenesis (soil formation).
It is the medium for several different ecosystems.
It is present as moisture in the atmosphere and the outer layers of the lithosphere and is uneven in distribution on the Earth.
Water is heavier than air and imparts greater buoyancy to the aquatic medium. This enables organism to float at variable levels.
Water has high heat capacity and latent heat, due to which it can withhold large amounts of heat. Thus, oceans and lakes tend to maintain a relatively constant temperature, and the biosphere is relatively thermostable.
Water is physically unique because it is less dense as a solid (ice) than as a liquid.
When water freezes `(0^@C)`, it contracts. The maximum density of liquid water occurs at 4C. Below that, it expands markedly. This enables ice to float on the top of water bodies. Hence, only the surface of water bodies will freeze, while below the surface, water will be in liquid form, sustaining life.