Top Stories of the Decade!

[anjou]

Its going to be a VERY long winter. My sun tan is fading fast and although its a week past the shortest day, the dark hours are still growing longer.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by John A

It's going to be a very long winter for those who would rather be outside doing boat things.

One of the benefits of realizing how little I know, is the gift of humility. Of course, like a pair of socks, humility is one of those useful, but often unappreciated gifts.

Another, more appreciated (by me), benefit is the realization of how much more is available for me to yet discover. I treasure this gift, because it gives my life meaning & excitement. What can I learn tomorow?

Thanks cal40john, and all those others of you, who continually enlighten my life, and brighten my days, by sharing your wisdom & knowledge !

[senormechanico]

Anjou,

I like your new avatar.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by cal40john

Oxygen does not like to be in the state of a monotonic atom since it is 2 electrons short of filling its outer shell. One way of satisfying that need is to share 2 electrons with another oxygen atom forming a double bond. Another way of doing this is to share one electron with a hydrogen and share another electron with another hydrogen. So a water molecule can exist as single molecule. The oxygen atoms do not interact with each other when they have already formed bonds with hydrogen.

In the form of liquid water many water molecules are actually lightly bonded together by hydrogen bonding. This is a weak electrostatic bond (as opposed to the strong covalent bonds above) that gives water gives water its interesting properties. See more in the web link below.

If you break water apart then look at what you get, the oxygen combines with another oxygen to make O2. So when you do a stoichiometric equation
2H2O -> 2H2 + O2
you break apart two water molecules to make one stable oxygen molecule. It is not that the two water molecules are combined or can't exist apart.

H2O - The Mystery, Art, and Science of Water: The Chemistry of Water: Structure

John

Originally Posted by GordMay

One of the benefits of realizing how little I know, is the gift of humility. Of course, like a pair of socks, humility is one of those useful, but often unappreciated gifts.

Another, more appreciated (by me), benefit is the realization of how much more is available for me to yet discover. I treasure this gift, because it gives my life meaning & excitement. What can I learn tomorow?

Thanks cal40john, and all those others of you, who continually enlighten my life, and brighten my days, by sharing your wisdom & knowledge !

In this one case I think I preferred the somewhat more simple DHMO