They have shown that the two isomers of water separate, differ in reactivity

2018/05/29 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Kimika

The water molecule has two isomers: if the nuclear spins of the two hydrogen atoms are in the same direction, it is called orto-water, and if they are in the opposite direction it is called para-water. Now, at the University of Basel (Hamburg) both have been separated by a system based on electric fields. In addition, they have been shown to have different reaction characteristics: the wall water reacts 25% faster than the orto water with diacenyllium ions.

The research has been published in the journal Nature Communications. They have determined that in the experiment they have carried out they have worked at a temperature close to absolute zero, which facilitates the control of the state of the molecules involved in the chemical reaction.