A Water Molecule's Chemical Formula Isn't Really H20

hackwrench writes "According to this article in Physics News Update, a water molecule's chemical formula is really not H2O, at least from the perspective of neutrons and electrons interacting with the molecule for only attoseconds (less than 10-15 seconds). According to new and recent experiments, neutrons and electrons colliding with water for just attoseconds will see a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen of roughly 1.5 to 1, so a more accurate formula for water under these circumstances would be H1.5O."

Comments

Still water!

[trompete]

Well, as long as it's still wet, there's no reason to panic.

Re:water in time

[Creepy Crawler]

And if it was H2O.99999973 , we'd know what CPU they used to count it with....

H-2-WHOA!!

[quinkin]

But that will mess-up up the name of the waterslide in the Simpsons...

H-2-WHOA!

Q.

Change water all you want

[1nv4d3r]

H-2-0, H-3-0, H-1.5-0 I don't care.

But consider yourselves warned: Leave my caffeine molecule alone!

Be careful

[isn't my name]

See this lengthy thread from years ago.

Re:H2O, H3O, and OH

[jonadab]

> The big deal is you'd end up with a glass 125% full of water.

Ah, but if you take a couple of sips, then you'll have a glass that
is three-quarters full and three-quarters empty. Get another glass
just like it, drink yet a few _more_ sips out of it, until it's
one-quarter full and one-quarter empty, pour them together, and the
glass will be full and not full. You know, the full glass that
cannot be empty is not the true full glass, and all that zen rot.