Unique Properties of Water

How does the polarity of water lead to the emergence of unique properties in liquid water?

The polarity of water is caused by the covalent bonds an oxygen molecule has with two hydrogen molecules. The resulting structure leaves water molecules open to form hydrogen bonds [weak chemical bonds between negative and positive polar covalent molecules] with other molecules, allowing water to have the ability of cohesion [one substance clings to itself through hydrogen bonding] & adhesion [one substance clings to another substance through hydrogen bonding].

http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/50211460/Insane%20in%20the%20membrane,%20part%201%3A%20%20Oil%20and%20water

Because of the structure and shape of water molecules, when water freezes it expands and becomes less dense, allowing it to float on the surface. Again, this is due to hydrogen bonding. As water begins to freeze, its ability to form hydrogen bonds creates lattice-like sheets of ice which are uniform and less dense than liquid water.  

http://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-1/climate-system/great-ocean-currents/water-a-unique-molecule/

Hydrogen bonds also gives water a high specific heat, which means that water can regulate temperature very nicely. It absorbs heat without changing drastically changing its own heat. To increase the heat of a substance, hydrogen bonds will be broken. Because water has so many hydrogen bonds, it is difficult to increase the heat by breaking a significant amount of these bonds. Water is also a master at evaporative cooling for the same reason that water is able to resist temperature change; a high amount of energy and heat is needed to break hydrogen bonds and to make water evaporate. It is because of this function that our oceans do not all vaporise into the atmosphere.