SuperIonic Water: A New Form of Matter?

[BillTre]

Not sure where this might best be located. This is not a question, more like a show and tell.

I read about superionic water in a NY Times article here.
Never heard of it before.
Formed at high pressure and temperature, it is described as simultaneously solid and liquid, and as "rigid lattice of oxygen atoms through which positively charged hydrogen nuclei move".
It may exist in Uranus or Neptune.

 

[Baluncore]

Formed at high pressure and temperature, it is described as simultaneously solid and liquid, and as "rigid lattice of oxygen atoms through which positively charged hydrogen nuclei move".

How can it be called water when the H₂O molecules are not there.

 

[sophiecentaur]

What's in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other word would smell as sweet.
(Quack!)

 

[Nugatory]

How can it be called water when the H₂O molecules are not there.

We do something similar when we say that there is salt in seawater even though the NaCl molecules are well and thoroughly dissociated.

 

[Baluncore]

We do something similar when we say that there is salt in seawater even though the NaCl molecules are well and thoroughly dissociated.

I used to believe that Na⁺ and Cl^– were quite independent in a solution. But I was corrected by an academic chemist who explained that it is only in the chemical equilibrium equation that they are shown as being totally separate. Only the temporarily dissociated reactive molecule is represented in that equation.
Since then I have been under the impression that when NaCl dissolves in water, the Na⁺ and Cl^– remain significantly bonded while being supported in the water, with each NaCl molecule being independent of other NaCl molecules.
Likewise, most molten NaCl molecules remain bonded, but are too hot to crystallise, molten NaCl is not a plasma.

In a similar way, only about one millionth of the water solvent is dissociated. It is still H₂O.
Superionic "water" is described as "rigid lattice of oxygen atoms through which positively charged hydrogen nuclei move". That is total dissociation.
How dissociated is “well and thoroughly”?

For; NaCl(aq) <=> Na⁺(aq) + Cl^–(aq); does anyone have any reference to the degree of dissociation.

 

[BillTre]

Seems like it should be a good conductor.
And a strong acid ("molecular acid" like in the Alien's blood?)?

 

[sophiecentaur]

I used to believe that Na⁺ and Cl^– were quite independent in a solution. But I was corrected by an academic chemist who explained that it is only in the chemical equilibrium equation that they are shown as being totally separate. Only the temporarily dissociated reactive molecule is represented in that equation.
Since then I have been under the impression that when NaCl dissolves in water, the Na⁺ and Cl^– remain significantly bonded while being supported in the water, with each NaCl molecule being independent of other NaCl molecules.
Likewise, most molten NaCl molecules remain bonded, but are too hot to crystallise, molten NaCl is not a plasma.

In a similar way, only about one millionth of the water solvent is dissociated. It is still H₂O.
Superionic "water" is described as "rigid lattice of oxygen atoms through which positively charged hydrogen nuclei move". That is total dissociation.
How dissociated is “well and thoroughly”?

For; NaCl(aq) <=> Na⁺(aq) + Cl^–(aq); does anyone have any reference to the degree of dissociation.

There's always someone who knows more than me! (And several others too, in this case.) That argument certainly makes sense though.