Buzz
Although water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, its molecular structure prevents humans from breathing it. David Madison / Getty ImagesMain Points
- Humans are unable to breathe underwater because the oxygen in water (H2O) is chemically bonded to hydrogen, making it inaccessible for our lungs to process.
- Fish extract dissolved oxygen gas (O2) from water through their gills, which are highly efficient due to their large surface area and the lower oxygen requirements of cold-blooded animals.
- Although experiments with oxygen-rich liquids like fluorocarbons have been conducted, human lungs are anatomically designed for air and lack the necessary surface area to absorb oxygen from water effectively.
Chemicals have the unique property of forming entirely different compounds when they react in various ways. For instance, combining carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in one configuration yields glucose (C6H12O6), while another arrangement produces vinegar (C2H4O2). Different reactions can also result in fat or ethanol (C2H5OH). Despite being composed of the same elements, glucose, fat, ethanol, and vinegar are vastly different in nature.
When hydrogen and oxygen gas react, they form liquid water (H2O). The reason humans cannot breathe water is that the oxygen in water is chemically bonded to hydrogen atoms, rendering it unusable for our respiratory system. In this form, the oxygen is inaccessible to our lungs.
Fish do not breathe the oxygen in H2O. Instead, they extract dissolved oxygen gas (O2) from the water. Gases dissolving in liquids is a common phenomenon, as seen in carbonated drinks where carbon dioxide gas is dissolved and escapes as bubbles.
Fish extract dissolved oxygen from water using their gills. This process is challenging because air contains approximately 20 times more oxygen than the same volume of water. Additionally, water is denser and heavier than air, making it harder to move. Gills are effective for fish because they are cold-blooded, which reduces their oxygen needs. Warm-blooded animals, like whales, breathe air because extracting sufficient oxygen from water would be inefficient.
Humans are unable to breathe underwater because our lungs lack the surface area required to absorb adequate oxygen from water. Furthermore, our lungs are designed to process air, not water. However, experiments with liquids like fluorocarbons, which can dissolve sufficient oxygen, have shown that humans can extract oxygen from them. For more intriguing details, refer to the last link below!
- The Functioning of Your Lungs
- The Biology of Whales
- The Mechanics of Sharks
- The Science Behind Sushi
- How Fish Control Buoyancy in Water
- Understanding Fish Gills
- Evolution of Human Ears from Fish Gills
