Look at Ice Through a Microscope - Charlie

[charlie69]

hi every1

what do you see if you look at ice through a standard microscope? is the structure too small to be seen?

thanks

charlie

 

[Andy Resnick]

Which structure- the crystalline atomic structure, the grain bounderies, the aggregations, the inclusions?

 

[charlie69]

i meant the crystalline atomic structure, but would also be interested to know what the aggregations and the inclusions are.

thanks :)

 

[Andy Resnick]

Structures below about 1/4 micron are too small to see with visible light, given a proper definition of 'see'. Depending on the specific ice sample, you may be able to determine the agglomerated structure, and could most likely see all the trapped air bubbles and dirt.

 

[charlie69]

ok thanks! I've always wondered what makes the difference between cloudy and clear ice. Does it depend how quickly the ice is frozen?

 

[Andy Resnick]

Good question- I don't know. All I know is that to get clear ice, one must degas the water. I guess if the ice feezes slowly enough, in the right geometry, the air can come out of solution and escape the liquid water.