Final answer:
The life-giving properties of water are due to the hydrogen bonds that form between water molecules due to the polarity caused by the different electronegativities of hydrogen and oxygen. These bonds give water its unique properties like high heat capacity, solvent capabilities, and temperature stability which are essential for life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of bond attributed to water's life-giving properties is the hydrogen bond. These are weak bonds that form due to the polarity of the water molecule, which occurs because the oxygen atom has a higher electronegativity than the hydrogen atoms. This electronegativity difference leads to a polarized covalent bond and a dipole moment within each water molecule. As a result of these hydrogen bonds between water molecules, water has high heat capacity and heat of vaporization, strong cohesive and adhesive properties, and is an excellent solvent for polar molecules. Moreover, hydrogen bonds are essential to the formation and stability of the structures of proteins and DNA.
The special properties of water — such as being able to dissolve many substances, its high heat capacity, and its ability to maintain a stable temperature — are intimately tied to life's processes and biological systems. For instance, most cellular chemistry and metabolism occur in the watery contents of the cell's cytoplasm. Additionally, the formation of hydrogen bonds causes ice to be less dense as a solid, providing insulation for aquatic environments. Water's cohesive and adhesive traits are vital for the movement of water from the roots to the leaves in plants, and its property of dissociating into ions helps regulate pH levels for homeostasis in organisms.