Water is a polar molecule made of hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen bonds to the hydrogens creating 3 pairs of valance electrons. The pairs are equally spaced, but the hydrogen side has just a little more pull and this gives, that tiny charge that creates the capillary action that helps trees grow large. The charge holds the liquid together more closely than the solid causing ice to float. Surface tension is another amazing thing. You can see waves form a central point on the surface of water, water has more resistance because of the way polarity holds it together.
Understanding small things can help us understand big things. A tree can pump gallons of water from top to bottom using a passive process that is so small we can't even see it.
Chemistry Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/tutorials/chemistry/page3.html
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