Water is the most abundant and one of the most frequently studied substances on Earth, yet its geometry at the molecular level -- the simple two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and how they interact with other molecules, including other water -- has remained somewhat of a mystery to chemists.
Most understanding at that level is theoretical, requiring the use of supercomputers to make innumerable calculations over periods of weeks to make educated guesses as to the arrangements and structure of water clusters before they form into liquid water or ice.
But a new study, using experimentation with a highly advanced spectrometer for molecular rotational spectroscopy, has removed some of the mystery and validates some very complex theory involving the way water molecules bond. It is published in the May 18 issue of the journal Science.
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