地球の約71％を覆う、生命の維持に不可欠な水は、当たり前のようでいて驚くべき性質を持っています。科学的視点から水について考察する本書は、「水の三態」（氷・水・水蒸気）を踏まえ、水分子の構造がどのようにその物理的・化学的性質を示すのかを見ていきます。その構造と性質を理解することが、いかに化学・宇宙物理学・地球科学・環境科学にとって欠かせないことであるかや、水が生物に果たす役割、水をめぐる論争にも言及します。
　　

• Provides an introduction to the science of water, ice, snow, and steam, and how the structure of water molecules gives rise to its physical and chemical properties
• Discusses the key role of water in biology and the possibility of water on other planets in the Solar System and beyond
• Explains the importance of the properties of water to a range of disciplines, including chemistry, astrophysics, and earth and environmental sciences

 
Water dominates the surface of Earth and is vital to life on our planet. It is a remarkable liquid which shows anomalous behaviour. In this Very Short Introduction John Finney introduces the science of water, and explores how the structure of water molecules gives rise to its physical and chemical properties. Considering water in all three of its states as ice and steam as well as liquid, Finney explains the great importance of an understanding of its structure and behaviour to a range of fields including chemistry, astrophysics, and earth and environmental sciences. Finney describes the role of water in biology, and ends with a discussion of the outstanding controversies concerning water, and some of the 'magical' properties which have been claimed for it.