Is Water Wet?

[Mistyriver428]

This may sound weird, but it has become a huge controversy in my school. This is where you discuss and debate why water is wet, or why it is not.

 

[eoperipatus]

This may sound weird, but it has become a huge controversy in my school. This is where you discuss and debate why water is wet, or why it is not.

OML IT'S HAPPENING AT MY SCHOOL, TOO!! There were actual, like, fists flying fights over it!

 

[Mistyriver428]

EXACTLY!!

 

[Mistyriver428]

I didn't want to take sides, but it was getting pretty crazy.

 

[eoperipatus]

Yup! Some of the science teachers have started trying to calm us down about it.

 

[Mistyriver428]

Mine really didn't want to take sides.

 

[Natalija]

Water is as wet as fire is dry!

You tell them that, and punch anyone who disagrees!

 

[Nilum]

...

Okay. I've got five minutes to solve this, actually, because I guess I can see where the confusion might be coming from, considering high school doesn't generally do a good job teaching English.

Water is a transparent and nearly colorless chemical substance that is the main constituent of Earth's streams, lakes, and oceans, and the fluids of most living organisms. Its chemical formula is H2O, meaning that each of its molecules contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms that are connected by covalent bonds. Strictly speaking, water refers to the liquid state of a substance that prevails at standard ambient temperature and pressure; but it often refers also to its solid state (ice) or its gaseous state (steam or water vapor). It also occurs in nature as snow, glaciers, ice packs and icebergs, clouds, fog, dew, aquifers, and atmospheric humidity.

"Water" in this case refers to two things: The liquid state of H2O, and as a colloquial (catch-all/informal) term to refer to all forms of H2O--gaseous, vapour, liquid, and solid.

Now, let's define what the word "wet" means.

1. Moistened, covered, or soaked with water or some other liquid:
wet hands.

2. In a liquid form or state:
wet paint.

3. Characterized by the presence or use of water or other liquid.

4. Moistened or dampened with rain; rainy:
Wet streets make driving hazardous.

"In a liquid form or state", or "moistened, covered, or soaked with water or some other liquid", or (and this is the most important one) "Characterized by the presence or use of water or other liquid."

In other words, a state of "wet" can be achieved by simply having the mere presence of water in a liquid form, in and of itself, without it having actually soaked anything beyond itself.

Therefore, now knowing what both words mean...

If you are using the term "water" to refer strictly to its liquid state, then yes, water, by definition, is always wet.

If you are using the term "water" to refer to the chemical composition of H2O in any state--liquid, solid, vapour, and gas, then no, by definition again it is not always wet as there are states wherein you can come into contact with it and not be soaked, and it is not in a liquid form.

There you are. Now please tell your barbarian classmates to stop hitting each other with sticks and try picking up a book and reading for a change.

 

[Natalija]

Thats optimistic, given how kids can be. You realy think if she tells them that they going to listen? Culdnt hurt, but more then likely shel just get a bonk on the head and be called nerd. Best to stay out of it (if your not involved alredy, if you are, then by all means tell them), and let them fight it out. Sooner or later they'l grow a brain.

 

[Nilum]

Fair, but at the very least she can be given the knowledge she seeks. Knowledge does not spread unless someone is willing to give it.

Still, yeah. Her classmates probably won't care, they're just looking for something to have a scrap over.