Question

List any two characteristics of drinking water. Why is the water obtained from oceans and seas unfit for drinking purposes? [3 MARKS]

Answer 1

Characteristics of drinking water: 1 Mark
Reasons for undrinkable sea water: 2 Marks

The characteristics of drinking water are :

(i) It should be colourless and odourless.

(ii) It should be free from any suspended impurities.

Water in ocean and seas is salty because many salts are dissolved in it. Salt has dehydrating properties, so the more salt water we drink, the more water is lost from our body. As we drink sea water, the water already present in our body is rerouted to help our body dilute the excess of salt.