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Ice in the Universe: How is ice in outer space different from ice on Earth?
On the earth we are familiar with, ice is almost everywhere. Whether it is the cold Arctic or the alpine glaciers, what we often see is a layer of white ice and snow. However, when we look far into outer space, the way ice forms and exists is very different. The discrepancy between the two has led scientists to begin exploring these mysterious natural phenomena in depth, which helps explain the history and evolution of the universe.
Most of the ice in the universe is in amorphous form, while the amazing ice on Earth is crystalline, mainly hexagonal ice.
Ice diversity and phase changes
Changes in air pressure and temperature induce different phases of ice, which change their properties and molecular geometry. Scientists have observed 21 phases of ice to date, including crystalline ice and amorphous ice. These phases have been discovered based on various experimental techniques, such as applied pressure, applied force, and spontaneous particle formation. On Earth, the most common phase is hexagonal ice (Ice Ih), but other forms of ice can be found under more extreme conditions of pressure and temperature.
In space, these phases can form naturally, providing a unique perspective on the chemical and physical properties of the universe. Their existence is closely related to environmental conditions, and scientists also try to reproduce the atmosphere under these extreme conditions through simulation and experiments.In outer space, amorphous cyanide ice is the most common form of ice and the most common phase in the universe.
The structure of Earth and cosmic ice
Earth's ice exists primarily in crystalline form, with a structure first proposed by Linus Pauling in 1935 called the zinc sulfide lattice. This structure causes water molecules to be arranged in a tetrahedral manner in ice, resulting in the unique property that the density of ice is lower in the solid state than in the liquid state.
This arrangement helps explain why water expands as it freezes as it cools, causing ice to float on the water's surface. In contrast, ice in the universe, especially amorphous ice, does not have this long-range ordered structure, but instead appears in the form of disordered atomic arrangement, which further enhances its scientific research value.In Earth's ice, oxygen atoms are clustered in a hexagonal symmetry with nearly tetrahedral bond angles.
The formation of ice and the distribution of hydrogen atoms
An interesting phenomenon is that in the structure of ice, the positions of hydrogen atoms are somewhat random. This allows huge differences between different ice phases even under the same conditions. In outer space, due to the extreme pressure and temperature of the environment, these hydrogen atoms cannot remain in an ordered state for a long time, thus forming high-density and low-density amorphous ice.
Ice-like particles formed in space may have important implications for understanding the presence of water in the early universe and its role in the formation of planets.
Hydrogen Binding and Thermal Energy Changes
There are also variations in heat transfer properties between different ice phases, for example, the forces at which ice and water coexist to reach the triple point. The melting point and sublimation heat of ice are also important indicators to measure its molecular stability. For scientists, these changes not only help understand Earth's water cycle, but also provide clues to the possibility of alien life.
The latent heat required for melting and sublimation of ice indicates the strength of the hydrogen bonds between water molecules, and this bonding exhibits different properties in different phases of ice.
Future Research Directions
As technology advances, the exploration of cosmic ice will become a hot and challenging research area. Given the various possible ice phases that may exist in outer space, future scientific developments will focus on how to simulate these extreme space conditions in the laboratory to gain a deeper understanding of the properties of ice.
Through these studies, we may be able to uncover the mystery of water in the universe and promote our understanding of the origin of life.
Now, we should perhaps think about this question: Is the boundary between ice in the universe and ice on Earth really as clear as we think?
