Water Ice Crystal Structure (IMAGE)

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University

Water Ice Crystal Structure

Caption

This is the most common crystal structure of water ice. Oxygen (red sphere) are located in a hexagonal configuration, similar to a honey comb. Each oxygen ion is bound to neighboring protons (white sphere, hydrogen) by two short bonds and two longer bonds. The structure respects the ice rules: each bond can contain only one proton and each oxygen ion has two protons adjacent to it.

Credit

OIST

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