2024-02-09 22:39:51
The image of pure water as a near-perfect insulator has been challenged by researchers who showed, for the first time in 2021, that it can become metallic under certain conditions. Through a process that involves putting pure water in contact with an alloy of sodium and potassium, charged particles are generated that allow the water to conduct electricity, although only temporarily. This discovery provides a new understanding of this phase of water and its properties, opening the door to future research on the topic.
The research, led by chemist Pavel Jungwirth and his team at the Czech Academy of Sciences, found an innovative way to induce metallicity in pure water. Instead of adding the metal to water, they introduced water into the sodium-potassium alloy in a vacuum chamber, which allowed electrons and metal cations to flow into the water, turning it into a temporary conductor.
This transformation not only gave the water a characteristic golden glow, but also made it conductive, as would be expected in pure metallic water at high pressures. This achievement was confirmed by advanced spectroscopy techniques, which clearly identified the conductive properties and golden glow in different frequency ranges, publishes ScienceAlert.
In addition to expanding our understanding of this phase of water on Earth, this research might have important implications for the study of extreme conditions on giant planets such as Neptune and Uranus. It is believed that on these planets, as well as on Jupiter, there are pressure conditions high enough for pure water to become metallic. This advance might help scientists better understand these planetary phenomena and replicate these conditions in the laboratory.
In summary, this study not only demonstrates the possibility of producing metallic water on Earth, but also provides a detailed characterization of its properties, opening new opportunities for scientific research both on our planet and in outer space.
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