Water structure and reactivity

Despite many studies of water in the past, one important aspect of its structure has been largely neglected, namely the presence of free groups in an otherwise fully hydrogen-bonded network. Several aspects of the varied role that water plays in chemistry are illuminated by these groups. Water is envisaged as a three-dimensional network involving tetragonal bonds fortuitously linked together, with four to seven ring systems. The ability of the H bonds to move is enhanced by exchange processes involving bifurcated H bonds. 8 figures. (DLC)