Why does water consist of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen?

In summary, Berkeman explains that the structure of water is due to the availability of two electrons to make bonds, while hydrogen has one electron. Oxygen is happy to make two covalent bonds, which maximizes stability. He also points out that because of this stability, water is able to exist as a liquid at Earth's temperatures. Finally, he discusses what absolute zero is and how it relates to temperature.
  • #1
lllll
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0
Greetings.


I have an inquisition as I enter the realm of the elemental. Exactly why does water consist of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen? What is a simplistic philosophical reasoning for this? I have recognized that it has nothing to do with the corrolation of atomic weight, or so as it currently stands.
 
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  • #2
If it wasn't H2O, it would be a different molecule, and we wouldn't call it water.
 
  • #3
lllll said:
Greetings.


I have an inquisition as I enter the realm of the elemental. Exactly why does water consist of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen? What is a simplistic philosophical reasoning for this? I have recognized that it has nothing to do with the corrolation of atomic weight, or so as it currently stands.


Oxygen atom has two vacancies in its outer electron shell. So, it is happy to make two covalent bonds. Hydrogen has one electron available for bonding. So, the structure H-O-H has exceptional stability, because all atoms maximize their bonding potential.

Eugene.
 
  • #4
Thank you Hurkyl for the very simplified philosophical reasoning and thank you meopemuk for the mesh of the elemental. Exactly what I was inquiring.

Also, is there an inner electron shell?

So atoms will maximize their bonding potential in a closed environment with a limited amount of atoms and for the most part in an encircling/ed or otherwise enclosing/ed atmosphere such as the planet Earth, thus making a closed system, hence thermodynamics?
 
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  • #5
lllll said:
Also, is there an inner electron shell?

So atoms will maximize their bonding potential in a closed environment with a limited amount of atoms and for the most part in an encircling/ed or otherwise enclosing/ed atmosphere such as the planet Earth, thus making a closed system, hence thermodynamics?

Here is some further reading that will help you in your learning:

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_orbital
 
  • #6
I am trying to make sense of the laws of thermodynamics and have been for some years now, since they currently hold no value to me. I am having one more go at this and then I will forget about the laws altogether if they continue to fail to truly meet eternal standards. I am yet to be directed toward a truly closed system, and am yet to be logically told why a broken glass is any more or less chaotic than an in tact one. The glass is the glass whether broken or not... where and why is chaos seen? Because of an expected uniformity derived of and toward the once in tact state that seems correct to the expecting observer? Just because a glass hold water for us to drink out of and in that state is thus correct... a broken one is chaotic? That to me is a Human flaw and not a universal construct nor a universal truth, but so be it. I drink out of the beautifully flowing river and all of its naturality. Where does your water come from, not what holds your water.

Also, I know this is a bit off topic, and feel free to move this post if need be, but (from wikipedia) "Absolute zero describes a theoretical system that neither emits nor absorbs energy."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_zero

That system would be the immeasurable system, or all limited systems combined. Why must it be consociated with a temperature? The "uni-verse" is a system of systems and contemperaneously those systems are immeasurable, and the grand system (the immeasurable presence) neither emits nor absorbs energy because there are no outside forces to and of an immeasurable presence.

I am asking to be shown a truly closed system with no outside forces acting upon it. That is an utter contradiction. No outside forces would mean that it is immeasurable, ergo "nothing" outside of it, thus ever expansive. Where is a closed system that does not contradict its self? Where is a closed system that requires nothing but itself to commission besides that of the entirety of existence and energy its self, that which is eternal?
 
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  • #7
By the way, the consummation of atoms is such a beautiful deal. Thank you Berkeman. I suppose the elemental world will eventually help me get to where and what I am trying to bring out.

I believe absolute zero can be found in the concept of zero, a.k.a. the immeasurable, and thus we arrive at the eternity of the uni-verse once again... and we see that all is perfectly in synch and already at a state of equillibrium, and ironically, or really not so much, again it has nothing to do with temperature, yet its numerical conceptual value, that which is zero/undefined/immeasurable. Nothing will bring every-thing together; everything is already together because of nothing; and no-thing is already together because of everything. Does anyone see it? It's in the words themselves, and perhaps I'm a mad man, but perhaps not.
 
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  • #8
lllll said:
I am trying to make sense of the laws of thermodynamics and have been for some years now, since they currently hold no value to me. I am having one more go at this and then I will forget about the laws altogether if they continue to fail to truly meet eternal standards.

if you don't mind my asking, why would the laws of thermodynamics hold no value to you? they have guided us to the right answers for quite some time. it almost sounds like they do not fit some supernatural requirement that you have imposed?
lllll said:
I believe absolute zero can be found in the concept of zero, a.k.a. the immeasurable, and thus we arrive at the eternity of the uni-verse once again... and we see that all is perfectly in synch and already at a state of equillibrium...(snip)

i'm not exactly sure what you mean, but certaintly not everything is in equilibrium.
 
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  • #9
lllll said:
By the way, the consummation of atoms is such a beautiful deal. Thank you Berkeman. I suppose the elemental world will eventually help me get to where and what I am trying to bring out.

I believe absolute zero can be found in the concept of zero, a.k.a. the immeasurable, and thus we arrive at the eternity of the uni-verse once again... and we see that all is perfectly in synch and already at a state of equillibrium, and ironically, or really not so much, again it has nothing to do with temperature, yet its numerical conceptual value, that which is zero/undefined/immeasurable. Nothing will bring every-thing together; everything is already together because of nothing; and no-thing is already together because of everything. Does anyone see it? It's in the words themselves, and perhaps I'm a mad man, but perhaps not.

At some point, this thread is starting to wander into purely speculative, personal "beliefs" (just count how many times you have stated something that you "believe" in or stated something without justification or evidence). So before it goes too far and suffers the same fate as other speculative posts and threads, I strongly suggest you re-read the PF Guidelines that you have agreed to, especially on speculative, personal theories.

While we welcome queries and questions about things you don't understand, we do not allow for the advertisement of personal "beliefs" that isn't part of standard physics, or without validation and support from published papers.

Zz.
 
  • #10
lllll said:
So atoms will maximize their bonding potential in a closed environment with a limited amount of atoms and for the most part in an encircling/ed or otherwise enclosing/ed atmosphere such as the planet Earth, thus making a closed system, hence thermodynamics?
This makes no sense (nor do any of the following posts).

If you wish to understand anything at all about elements and compounds, you need to either take a basic course in chemistry, or self study from a standard elementary text in the subject. Likewise with physics and thermodynamics.
 
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  • #11
I see. I have realized that I went off topic and admittedy so.

Gokul43201 said:
This makes no sense (nor do any of the following posts).

Then I see by virtue of the analyzation and then senseless result acquired from reading my text that you have actually made sense of it and this is how you were able to realize that it made no sense to you and your foundation through axiom, whatever that is, and it is respected.

Wikipedia: "In thermodynamics, a thermodynamic system, originally called a working substance, is defined as that part of the universe that is under consideration. A real or imaginary boundary separates the system from the rest of the universe, which is referred to as the environment or surroundings (sometimes called a reservoir). A useful classification of thermodynamic systems is based on the nature of the boundary and the quantities flowing through it, such as matter, energy, work, heat, and entropy. A system can be anything, for example a piston, a solution in a test tube, a living organism, or a planet, etc."

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

Thank you all for your time. I'll be ever searching for that closed system since what I presented and what wikipedia gave as an example makes no sense to the esteemed homework helper, science advisor, retired staff member, and specialized PF contributor. My apologies. Maybe a slower read would grant you comprehension, but nonetheless, thank you for your time and your advice.

My apologies for knowingly breaking the predetermined and set rules of this forum and physics, I understand and am aware that it does and will anger people, so be it, I will face a life time of such. Carry on, it's a beautiful day.
 
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Related to Why does water consist of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen?

1. Why is water composed of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen?

Water is composed of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom because of the way these atoms bond together. Oxygen has a stronger attraction for electrons compared to hydrogen, causing the electrons to spend more time around the oxygen atom. This creates a slightly negative charge around the oxygen atom and a slightly positive charge around the hydrogen atoms. The opposite charges attract each other, resulting in the formation of a water molecule with 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

2. How do we know that water consists of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen?

Scientists have used various methods to determine the chemical formula of water. One of the most common methods is through the process of electrolysis, where an electric current is passed through water to split it into its component elements. The resulting gases are collected and analyzed, revealing that water consists of 2 parts hydrogen and 1 part oxygen.

3. Why is hydrogen represented first in the chemical formula of water (H2O)?

The convention of writing the chemical formula with hydrogen first is based on the concept of electronegativity. Since oxygen has a higher electronegativity compared to hydrogen, it is written last in the chemical formula. This convention is also followed in other compounds, with the element of lower electronegativity written first.

4. Is the ratio of 2/3 hydrogen and 1/3 oxygen always constant in water?

Yes, the ratio of 2 hydrogen atoms to 1 oxygen atom is always constant in a water molecule. This is because the bonding between the atoms is based on the number of electrons and protons in each element, which remains constant. However, the mass of water may vary depending on the presence of isotopes, which have different numbers of neutrons in their atoms.

5. Can water exist in other forms with a different ratio of hydrogen and oxygen?

No, the chemical formula of water (H2O) remains constant regardless of its state (solid, liquid, or gas). However, water can form different structures, such as ice and steam, depending on the arrangement of its molecules. These structures may exhibit different properties, but they still consist of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

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