Water is a liquid.
Water . Water covers 71 % of the Earth 's surface . On Earth , 96.5 % of the planet 's crust water is found in seas and oceans , 1.7 % in groundwater , 1.7 % in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland , a small fraction in other large water bodies , and 0.001 % in the air as vapor , clouds ( formed of ice and liquid water suspended in air ) , and precipitation . Large quantities of water , ice , and steam are used for cooling and heating , in industry and homes .