Which property of water best explains why the water used by plants and animals today has been present on Earth for millions of years?

• A. Water is constantly created through photosynthesis and destroyed during cellular respiration.
• B. Water is only found in liquid form on Earth, preventing it from leaving the planet.
• C. Water molecules are permanently bound to living organisms and cannot be released back into the environment.
• D. Water participates in a continuous cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, allowing it to be reused over time.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of the water cycle. The water cycle is a continuous process that involves the movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. This cycle allows water to be reused over time.
2. Step 2: Recognize the role of evaporation. During evaporation, water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and other sources turns into water vapor due to heat from the sun.
3. Step 3: Learn about condensation. Water vapor rises into the atmosphere, cools down, and forms clouds through the process of condensation.
4. Step 4: Understand precipitation. When clouds become heavy with condensed water, precipitation occurs in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, returning water to the Earth's surface.
5. Step 5: Connect the cycle to the problem. The continuous nature of the water cycle ensures that water is reused and remains available for plants and animals over millions of years, explaining why water has been present on Earth for such a long time.