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Water, Air, and Soil are the three essential life elements required for the survival of life on earth. Earth is the only planet in the entire universe that supports life. Life on earth is not possible without the existence of these three essential resources. Life is only possible due to the interaction of living organisms with the resources the earth provides. This interaction creates a balance between living and non-living things and sustains both of them.
Water is the medium of life and is utilized by humans for drinking, and for domestic and industrial purposes. Air is a mixture of gases that is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and a small percentage of water vapor and other gases. The oxygen in the air is essential for living organisms to survive. Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust which helps in crop production and the construction of buildings to live.
Read More: NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science
| Table of Contents |
Key Terms: Water, Air, Soil, Earth, Resources, Oxygen, Living Organisms, Freshwater, Element, Temperature
Water
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Water is one of the most important non-living resources essential for the survival of life on earth. It is also called the medium of life. Evert living organism requires water as they use water as a medium for all the chemical reactions happening inside the body.
- Water is the largest component of the earth along the land.
- Water is present in large bodies like the ocean, seas, rivers, and lakes. It is also present in the atmosphere in the form of vapors.
- Water is found in its solid state in the form of snow, glaciers, and ice shelves.
- 97% of the water found on the earth is present in the oceans. It is too salty to taste and cannot be consumed on daily basis.
- Only 3% of water is available as freshwater of which 98% is present in the form of glaciers and ice.
- Thus, only a small portion of freshwater is available in rivers and lakes.
Water
| Chapter-Related Topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Forms of Water | Scarcity of Water | Soil Taxonomy |
| Soil Erosion | Agriculture Soil | Causes & Effects of Water Pollution |
Uses of Water
Water is a very essential resource present on earth. The uses of water are:
- 70% of the water is used by human beings for agricultural purposes.
- Water is a habitat for many aquatic animals such as fish which is a major food component in the majority of countries.
- Water is an excellent means of transport used for shipping products such as oil, natural gas, and solid goods across the globe.
- It is converted into the form of steam and is used for cooling and heating purposes.
- Water acts as a natural solvent that is used in industrial processes such as cooking and washing.
- The solid form of water, i.e. ice is used for surfing, and skating purposes.
Read More: Causes of Water Scarcity
Air
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Air is a mixture of gases. It is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, water vapor, and other gases. Oxygen, the most essential element required for life, is present in the air. Organisms use oxygen in order to produce energy from the food we eat. The carbon dioxide exhaled by living organisms is used by plants to trap energy from the sun and turn it into food.
Uses of Air
- Air provides us with oxygen which is used by living organisms to breathe and turn their food into energy.
- Air helps to regulate the temperature of the earth.
- Because of the temperature regulation by the earth, changes in weather and different climatic conditions occur accordingly.
Read More: Importance of Air
Soil
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Soil is defined as the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust. Soil comprises minerals useful for life such as Iron, Zinc, Nitrogen compounds, etc. Soil holds water and makes it available for the plants to use. Various ores are present in the soil from which we can extract metals such as iron, copper, gold, and aluminum.
Soil
Uses of Soil
- Soil is essential for the purpose of agriculture as it comprises the nutrients helpful for the nourishment of the plant.
- Soil is also used for construction purposes such as for buildings and houses.
- It is also used in the preparation of ceramic materials and pottery. The clayey soil is used to prepare cooking and drinking utensils and pots.
- Soil acts as a modifier of the earth’s atmosphere.
- Soil is the natural habitat of many living organisms such as microorganisms and worms.
Read More: Properties of Soil
Harmful Practices on Water, Air and Soil
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Despite being the most essential elements on the earth, water, air, and soil are subjected to various harmful practices by humans. Some of them are listed below:
- The use of fertilizers and pesticides on soil has severely affected the natural content of soil and is degrading the soil quality.
- The loss of fertility of the soil is degrading the quality of the food.
- The mining and deforestation practices also cause the loss of fertility of the soil.
- Improper disposal of chemical waste by industries into the water bodies pollutes water and affects the marine life of the water body.
- The release of hazardous chemicals into natural air causes air pollution and poses a threat to all living organisms breathing it.
- All these harmful effects cause a simultaneous effect on the entire ecosystem and affect the survival of life on earth.
Things to Remember
- Water, air, and soil are the three basic yet the most elements of life.
- Water is a non-living resource that is required for drinking, domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes.
- 97% of water is salty and present in oceans and the rest 3% is freshwater which is used for all purposes.
- Air is composed of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and a small proportion of water vapor and other gases.
- Air provides oxygen for all living organisms to breathe.
- Soil is the topmost layer of the crust made up of rocks and minerals.
- It acts as a habitat for living organisms and provides a growth medium for plants and essential crops.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is water? (3 Marks)
Ans. Water is defined as a chemical compound composed of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. The chemical formula of water is H2O. It exists in all three states namely gaseous, liquid, and solid states. It is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere. Water is vital for all known forms of life.
Ques. Describe the distribution of water on earth. (3 Marks)
Ans. Out of the total volume of water present on earth, 97% of the water is salty and is found in oceans. It is not suitable for consumption or any other work. The rest 3% of the water is freshwater which is found in rivers and lakes and is suitable for drinking and all other purposes. However, out of this 3% freshwater, 98% is in the form of glaciers or ice-caps, thus, there is very less amount of water available directly for consumption.
Ques. What are the main gases present in the air? (3 Marks)
Ans. The three major gases present in the air are Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon.
- Nitrogen: It is the most abundant gas which makes up about 78% of air.
- Oxygen: It is the second most abundant gas which makes up about 21%.
- Argon: It is the third most abundant gas at 0.93%.
Ques. How is soil formed? (3 Marks)
Ans. Soil is formed as a result of a very long natural process. It is formed due to the weathering of the rocks into smaller particles and fragments. The rocks break down due to the physical and chemical decomposition process and form soil. Soil formation is affected by various factors such as Topography, Climate, Parent Materials, Organisms, and Time.
Ques. What is the importance of water? (3 Marks)
Ans. Water is an essential resource and is thus called the elixir of life. It supplies nutrients to the cells in the body of living organisms. It provides habitat and oxygen to the aquatic animals living in it. Water allows the body to absorb and use minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose, and other substances. It helps to flush out toxins and wastes. Water also helps to regulate body temperature.
Ques. Name any five uses of air. (3 Marks)
Ans. The uses of air are:
- It helps to sustain life and growth.
- It helps in combustion.
- Air helps to regulate the temperature.
- It helps in the process of photosynthesis.
Ques. What is Soil? (3 Marks)
Ans. Soil is defined as the uppermost layer present on the crust of the earth. It is formed by the breakdown of the rocks through various geological, climatic, and biological processes. It comprises various minerals such as Iron, Zinc, and Nitrogen compounds. Soil offers a natural habitat for living organisms and is essential for the growth of crops and plants.
Ques. What is meant by Soil Erosion? (3 Marks)
Ans. Soil erosion is defined as the washing out of the top layer of soil. Soil erosion washes out more essential nutrients present in the soil. It can be caused by natural processes such as heavy floods, ice production, and landslides. On the other hand, it can also be caused by deforestation, crop shifting, and overgrazing.
Ques. List the properties of air. (3 Marks)
Ans. The main properties of air are as follows:
- Air takes up space and has mass.
- Air exerts pressure on its surroundings.
- Air can be compressed and stored in a container.
- Air is affected by both heat and altitude.
Ques. What is water pollution? (3 Marks)
Ans. Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs, and groundwater. Water can be polluted by a wide variety of substances such as fertilizers and plant nutrients, toxic chemicals, sediments, heat, petroleum, and radioactive substances. Water pollution has become a serious environmental concern over the last few decades at an alarming rate.
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