The Great Gas Escape

This is a computer simulation of methane, also known as natural gas, escaping from a methane hydrate. Many of these methane hydrate subunits combine to form a chunk of ice that burns, and this simulation shows how methane can get out without collapsing the entire structure. Red-and-silver water molecules form a cage around two blue-and-silver methane molecules. Two methane molecules are too tight a fit, so a low-energy hydrogen bond -- the red dotted lines -- between two water molecules breaks. This allows the water molecule to swing open like a gate as the methane makes a dash for it. The water molecule swings back into place, the hydrogen bond re-forms, and the methane hydrate remains stable.
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Reference: Soohaeng Yoo Willow and Sotiris S. Xantheas, 2011/12. Enhancement of Hydrogen Storage capacity in Hydrate Lattices, Chem. Phys. Lett. Dec. 22, 2011, doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2011.12.036. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009261411015314)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• methane hydrate lattice
• clathrate
• flammable ice
• computer simulation
• science
• technology
• molecules