Everyone knows that water conducts electricity - especially those who have already had a beautiful shock during a bath with an electric shower, for example. However, incredible as it may seem, considering water to be one of the most abundant substances on the planet, no one really understood that property of it.

The phenomenon involved in the process of conducting electricity - known as the Grotthuss mechanism - is relatively simple: basically water can transfer protons from one molecule to another through oxygen atoms (you can see how the mechanism works in the image below). But the details of how exactly this happens has intrigued scientists for over 200 years!

Grotthuss engine in action

Mystery Unraveled

According to Fiona MacDonald of Science Alert, who put an end to the mystery was a group of researchers led by a professor of chemistry at Yale University. Scientists have been able - for the first time in history - to record the transfer of particles between water molecules through spectroscopy, a technique in which researchers use light rays to observe the behavior of these structures.

Scientists first observed proton transfer

More precisely, the researchers managed to freeze the process during which protons are transferred and capture a series of images. According to Fiona, scientists froze some molecules of heavy water (or deuterium oxide) to near absolute zero and watched the mechanism happen as if everything were in slow motion.

Observations have enabled scientists to follow the sequences of structural deformations that occur during proton transfer, and this new knowledge may lead to a greater understanding of water conductivity - a process that is essential for our survival and for countless chemical reactions to occur in the body. Earth.

Water's electrical conductivity is fundamental to life on the planet, and study can help us better understand the universe around us.

Researchers further explained that understanding how this process works may help to clarify other issues related to water behavior - such as its ability to freeze completely at boiling point when it is confined to carbon nanotubes or why the surface is longer. or less acidic than the rest of its volume.

The team of scientists will continue their experiments - using more molecules of water and other substances as well - to see what surprises they bring. Most interestingly, however, this kind of research can help us better understand the universe in which we live.

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Remember that water, in order to become conductive, must contain some particles, such as sediment or minerals - that ionize the molecules, allowing electric currents to pass through it. When completely pure, it does not conduct electricity precisely because of the lack of free particles.