What's in Between Molecules?

Most recent answer: 09/18/2016

Q:
When water freezes the molecules are less dense. What is in between the hydrogen and oxygen molecules?
- Cynthia J Brandt (age 68)
83704
A:

Molecules don't have sharp edges. The electrons' cloud-like states gradually fade out. In water the states from the H and the O overlap a lot directly between the nearby nuclei. Away from that the electron density is lower. That's true both in ice and liquid water, but in ice there is more of that low-density space because on average the nuclei are farther apart.

Mike W. 


(published on 09/18/2016)