<P> Liquid water can be split into the elements hydrogen and oxygen by passing an electric current through it--a process called electrolysis . The decomposition requires more energy input than the heat released by the inverse process (285.8 kJ / mol, or 15.9 MJ / kg). </P> <P> Liquid water can be assumed to be incompressible for most purposes: its compressibility ranges from 4.4 to 6990510000000000000 ♠ 5.1 × 10 Pa in ordinary conditions . Even in oceans at 4 km depth, where the pressure is 400 atm, water suffers only a 1.8% decrease in volume . </P> <P> The viscosity of water is about 10 Pa s or 0.01 poise at 20 ° C, and the speed of sound in liquid water ranges between 1400 and 1540 m / s depending on temperature . Sound travels long distances in water with little attenuation, especially at low frequencies (roughly 0.03 dB / km for 1 k Hz), a property that is exploited by cetaceans and humans for communication and environment sensing (sonar). </P> <P> Elements which are more electropositive than hydrogen such as lithium, sodium, calcium, potassium and caesium displace hydrogen from water, forming hydroxides and releasing hydrogen . </P>

Explain five properties of water in living organisms