Through the ages, water has been the inspiration of poets, painters, composers and philosophers. Today however, water is perceived as a commodity, with little thought for its role in influencing chemical reactions and shaping our terrestrial environment to make it fit for life. Water 2nd Edition is an update and extension of the RSC paperback first published in 1983. This book discusses current scientific knowledge of water: its remarkable properties, its influence on dissolved substances and its usually neglected but controlling role in the life sciences and ecology. With emphasis on developments over the last two decades, attention is drawn to important issues such as water quality, usage, economics and politics.