Chemspy chemistry news and views

Chemists merge experimentation with theory in understanding of water molecule - Water is the most abundant and one of the most frequently studied substances on Earth, yet its geometry at the molecular level has remained somewhat of a mystery to chemists. 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. Reference: B. H. Pate et al, 'Structures of Cage, Prism, and Book Isomers of Water Hexamer from Broadband Rotational Spectroscopy,' Science, 2012; 336 (6083): 897 DOI: 10.1126/science.1220574