The term "air" refers to the mixture of gases that surround and fill our planet. It is composed mainly of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%), with small amounts of other gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. Air is essential for life on Earth because it provides the oxygen that living organisms need to survive. It also helps regulate temperature by absorbing and trapping heat from the sun, and plays a role in the water cycle by holding moisture and releasing it through precipitation.