What essential material for life is found in great abundance on Earth?

Liquid water is crucial for life on Earth due to its unique properties that support biological processes. It serves as a solvent, allowing chemical reactions necessary for life to occur, helps regulate temperature, and facilitates nutrient transport within organisms. Water's ability to dissolve a wide range of substances makes it essential for cellular functions, and its presence in liquid form is critical for the survival of all known living organisms.

In contrast, while solid ice and gaseous carbon dioxide have their own roles in the environment, they do not provide the same broad range of essential functions as liquid water. Ice can help insulate ecosystems, but life cannot thrive in solid form. Carbon dioxide, although important for photosynthesis and as a greenhouse gas, is not directly utilized by all forms of life in its gaseous state. Mineral soil, while necessary for plant growth and the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems, does not have the same ubiquitous presence across diverse environments as liquid water does. Thus, the abundance of liquid water is fundamental to the existence of life as we know it.