Water is an
inorganic compound with the
chemical formula H
2O. It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless,
[c] and
nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's
streams,
lakes, and
oceans and the
fluids of all known living organisms, in which it acts as a
solvent. Water, being a
polar molecule, undergoes strong intermolecular
hydrogen bonding which is a large contributor to its physical and chemical properties.
[20] It is vital for all known forms of life, despite not providing
food energy or being an organic
micronutrient. Due to its presence in all organisms, its chemical stability, its worldwide abundance, and its strong polarity relative to its small molecular size, water is often referred to as the "universal solvent".
[21]