Explain why water used by plants and animals today has been around for millions of years.

Answer 1

Water is a naturally occurring element on Earth and it exists in a closed cycle known as the water cycle. Water is continuously circulated between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living organisms on Earth. Due to the conservation of matter, the total amount of water on Earth remains constant.

This means that the water found in plants and animals today is the same water that has been on Earth for millions of years. The water is constantly recycled through the water cycle, which involves processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.

Furthermore, the process of evapotranspiration, in which water is absorbed by plants and then evaporated from their leaves, plays a crucial role in the recycling of water. This process contributes to the movement of water from the soil, through the plant, and into the atmosphere, where it is eventually condensed and returned to the Earth as precipitation.

In summary, the water that is used by plants and animals today has been around for millions of years because it is constantly recycled through the water cycle, and the total amount of water on Earth remains constant.