clathrate hydrate

xstala commented on the word clathrate hydrate

"they are crystalline water based solids physically resembling ice, in which small non polar molecules (typically gasses) are trapped inside "cages" of hydrogen bonded water molecules. Without the support of the trapped molecules, the lattice structure of hydrate clathrates would collapse into conventional ice crystal structure or liquid water."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrate_hydrate

December 31, 2007