What causes the H bonds in water molecules to last only 10^-11 sec?

  • Context: Chemistry 
  • Thread starter Thread starter scientiavore
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bonds Molecules Water
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 4K views
scientiavore
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
I have thought of two possible explanations:

a) Energy required to break H bonds = Energy released when H bonds form.
There is a "constant" equilibrium in the system, meaning, some water molecules form H bonds, releasing energy to the environment which causes other water molecules to loose their H bonds, and this could on forever if isolated.

b) The H bonds last so little because the e- density in the water molecules change, the partially charged zones of the molecule are not constant and they change over time breaking the H bonds between the water molecules.

Which one is correct(if any)?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
i would suggest that it is because the water molecules are constantly moving around because they possesses kinetic energy.