HomeScience & InnovationNew Evidence shows that water separates into 2 liquids at extremely...

New Evidence shows that water separates into 2 liquids at extremely low temperatures

Water is the source of all things, yet many important water-related processes on Earth, from the Earth’s environment to the functioning of human lungs, only take place on the surface of water droplets.

Decades ago, scientists predicted that water would separate into 2 liquids under supercooled conditions, and now new evidence shows that supercooled water can indeed change from one liquid to a denser liquid, undergoing a “liquid-liquid phase transition” instead of becoming solid or gas.

In 1992, researchers at Boston University first proposed that “supercooled water” has a hidden “liquid-liquid phase transition” state.

It’s just that water tends to freeze into solid ice rather than another liquid at low temperatures, so proving this phase transition is challenging, and the scientific community still has little knowledge about liquid-liquid phase transitions.

Now, using computer simulations, researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Rome have succeeded in distinguishing two liquid characteristics at the microscopic level, showing that water can change from one liquid to another, which is more dense.

trefoil knots or Hopf links

The team found that high-density liquid water molecules form topologically complexes, such as trefoil knots or Hopf links, that entangle in a pretzel-like shape, compared to low-density liquid water molecules that mostly form simple rings.

Furthermore, the knots are transient and exchange entanglements as the liquid environment changes, suggesting that the properties of liquid water at high pressure and low temperatures should be quite different from any sloshing water on the Earth’s surface.

Further understanding of the topological behavior of water and other liquids under supercooled conditions could help scientists unravel the state of materials in extreme environments, such as the depths of planets.

The new paper was published in the journal Nature Physics.

Mehmet S. Kaya
Mehmet S. Kayahttps://teknonel.com
Mehmet is one of the administrator of Teknonel. As a software developer, he loves to share his knowledge in related topics. He is highly familiar with the editorial process from the inception of an article idea, through the iterative process, publishing, and performance analysis as well as product reviews.

Follow us on Social Media!

12FansLike
15,848FollowersFollow
13FollowersFollow
676SubscribersSubscribe

Related Articles

The real size of the innermost part of the Earth has been found

The results of seismic wave analysis are allowing us to understand more and more about the interior of the earth. For example, there is...

Why was the earthquake so devastating in Turkiye?

The images of devastation which come from Turkey are appalling and raise the question of the causes of this catastrophe. Because if the first...

Saharan dust slows down global warming slightly

Dust in the air can impact the health of sensitive populations, but on Earth, it has the effect of temporarily slowing the effects of...

Scientists discovered a miraculous microbe that “eats viruses”

Plants, animals, algae, insects and bacteria are eaten by different organisms and play their role in the food chain, but what about viruses? Now...

Explore More Articles

The night sky is full of black holes instead of stars

The night sky is full of black holes instead of stars

0
This is a seemingly ordinary starry sky photo (see the first picture), but it is a more special celestial body than luminous stars, that...
Sons-of-the-Forest-The-Best-Places-to-Find-Aloe-Vera

Sons of the Forest: The Best Places to Find Aloe Vera

0
If you want to find Aloe Vera in Sons of The Forest, this is the guide for you. Since you'll find yourself stranded on...
Sons-of-the-Forest-How-to-Craft-a-Bone-Armor

Sons of the Forest: How to Craft a Bone Armor?

0
Armor is surprisingly important in Sons of the Forest . If you plan on delving into the spooky caves that dot this new island, you'll want to...
What are the Differences between quail eggs and chicken eggs

What are the Differences between quail eggs and chicken eggs?

0
Quail eggs and chicken eggs have several differences in terms of size, nutritional content, taste, and culinary uses. Here are some of the key...