Why do scientists treat water like an element?

I always hear theories on how water got delivered to all these planets or that some are missing water. Some of these planets have oxygen and hydrogen, so why couldn't they just combine under heat and pressure after the planet forms? Why would water have to be delivered as a molecule?

James2015-12-15T08:51:01Z

Why couldn't water have been delivered as a molecule? The early solar system had suitable conditions for water to already exist.