Angle of H2O

[Eternity]

Could it be that the angle of H2O differs slightly in other parts of the universe?

[rstevenson]

The angle between atoms in a molecule is determined by repulsion forces between electron pairs. A fundamental premise of our understanding of physics is that the laws of physics apply everywhere. So there's no way the angles would be any different there/then than they are here/now.

Rob

[billinger]

I think that basic disparity for water wherever we can to find that one is about three degrees; water as a solid substance (ice) and water as a liquid substance has different measure of angle (angle between bonds).

[Beyond]

Does steam come out to be like regular liquid water for the angle of the atoms?

[rstevenson]

The angle of the hydrogen bond in various compounds can depend on the donor of the electron in the bond, but if we're talking about theoretically pure water, water ice or water steam, the angle will remain the same -- 104.5°. But this is really a discussion for a chemistry forum. The OP's first question was perhaps relevant to astronomy and has, I think, been answered.

Rob

[Chris Peterson]

Does steam come out to be like regular liquid water for the angle of the atoms?

The H-H bond angle of water molecules varies with phase, being lowest in the gas phase (104.5°), increasing somewhat in the liquid phase (106°), and greatest in the solid phase (109°, nearly the tetrahedral angle). Of course, all these values are averages; the actual angles in a real system of molecules will vary a bit because of thermal vibration as well as molecule to molecule interactions.

[rstevenson]

I knew if I stepped too far out on that branch, someone would come along and cut it off.

Back to class for me.

Rob

[Chris Peterson]

Back to class for me.

Nah... the difference is subtle, and has nothing to do with the astronomical question (as you pointed out). For this angle to be different somewhere else in the Universe would require that fundamental constants would need to be different as well- something that is not supported by observational evidence (quite the opposite... in every way we've figured out to look at that question, we see that constants really are constant).

[billinger]

Fifteen minutes ago I wanted to answer but I had to look in dictionary so thanks for help. Sometimes when I read question in english I have to think; it`s for me some kind of specific synthax. Something like: "blue" is first but I "see" it later because first I have to see "red".