Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: John Topping on 17/04/2009 12:30:03

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: John Topping on 17/04/2009 12:30:03

John Topping  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Dr Chris and the team

I came across this when trying to find stuff on the Leidenfrost effect:-

http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:prqz9xKC954J:www.physorg.com/pdf134058290.pdf  [google cache of the pdf]

[pdf here - www.physorg.com/pdf134058290.pdf]

It relates to a scientist at Department of Energy's Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) called Nilsson's work using x-ray spectroscopy, and his idea that traditionally held views about the structure of ice and water may in fact be wrong.  Do you know the latest information on this and whether this is a theory which literally 'holds water'

I enjoy your show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) and keep up to date via podcast (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) here in Dubai

Cheers

John

What do you think?

Title: Re: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: Don_1 on 17/04/2009 12:44:03

Sorry old chap, but Norton 360 flagged that site as unsafe, so I came out of it straight away.

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: BenV on 17/04/2009 12:58:49

Quote from: Don_1 on 17/04/2009 12:44:03

Sorry old chap, but Norton 360 flagged that site as unsafe, so I came out of it straight away.

The first one is a google cache, so should be perfectly safe.  I've altered the above to include a direct link to the pdf, if you're happier with that.

Alternatively, here's the original item:  http://www.physorg.com/news134058290.html

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: Don_1 on 17/04/2009 13:22:47

Quote from: BenV on 17/04/2009 12:58:49

Quote from: Don_1 on 17/04/2009 12:44:03

Sorry old chap, but Norton 360 flagged that site as unsafe, so I came out of it straight away.

The first one is a google cache, so should be perfectly safe.  I've altered the above to include a direct link to the pdf, if you're happier with that.

Alternatively, here's the original item:  http://www.physorg.com/news134058290.html

Thanks Ben, I know Norton can flag up safe sites as unsafe sometimes, but I find it pays to be on the safe side.

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: Don_1 on 17/04/2009 13:33:31

An interesting, if rather echoy, read. Perhaps that's what threw Norton into a spin.

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/04/2009 14:02:30

Could this be the turning point in human history? [:)]
Tune in and find out....

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 19/04/2009 12:55:40

How long until the Intelligent Design brigade starts using the nanoscale complexity of water as "proof" of God?

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 19/04/2009 13:01:50

Wow, first post in 12 days. [:o]
Where've ya been? [:)] Online but not posting huh?

Title: Could the structure of water be wrong?
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/04/2009 15:05:53

"The prevailing model of liquid water holds that as ice melts, the molecules loosen their grip but remain generally arranged in the same tetrahedral groups."

"In this way Nilsson's team found that water is indeed made up of tetrahedral groups,
but clear evidence also emerged for the dominance of a second, less defined structure in the mix."
So, our model of the structure of water was a bit oversimplified.
Big deal- that's why people were doing research on it.