Connectivity maps of some small optimized tetrahedral water clusters [429] are shown below. Compare these with the icosahedral (512) water cluster connectivity map (Schlegel diagram) (with 30,026 symmetry independent hydrogen-bonded configurations). Larger clusters based on, for example, tetrakaidecahedral (51262) (with 3,043,836 symmetry independent hydrogen-bonded configurations), pentakaidecahedral (51263), and hexakaidecahedral (51264) (with 61,753,344 symmetry independent hydrogen-bonded configurations) are also possible.
Connectivity maps of alternative water clusters
Complete water clusterings for the smaller optimized structures are shown below; each molecule in the small cluster forms a vertex of an (H2O)14 water tetrahedron. Only the oxygen atoms are shown (see the Jmol interactive structures). Compare with the icosahedral water cluster.
Alternative water clusters
Home | Site Index | Icosahedral clustering | Icosahedral water clusters | Tetrahedral clustering | Evidence for icosahedral clusters| LSBU | Top
This page was established in 2003 and last updated by Martin Chaplin on 28 June, 2021
