Superacidic water: Could it turn carbon into diamonds on Earth?
Scientists have discovered that under extreme conditions, water can transform into a superacid capable of turning carbon into diamonds. This has been confirmed by computer simulations.
Water, known for its unique properties, can become a superacid under extreme conditions, transforming carbon into diamonds. According to the ArXiv service, such transformations are possible at temperatures ranging from 1738 to 2727°C and pressures from 22,342 to 70,038 bar.
The mentioned conditions are comparable to those found not only inside our planet but also on gas giants like Uranus and Neptune. As the study's authors point out, under such conditions, water becomes billions of times stronger than sulfuric acid.
Flavio Siro Brigiano from the University of Paris and his team conducted computer simulations that showed superacidic water could transform hydrocarbons, such as methane, into structures resembling diamonds. This discovery might explain previous research suggesting that diamond rains could occur on icy giant planets.
Superacidic water could be used in industry, replacing traditional superacids in processes like oil refining. Although achieving such conditions in a laboratory is challenging, scientists plan experiments at lower pressures and temperatures.
Could this really be groundbreaking?
These studies, published on the ArXiv service, open new possibilities in understanding the chemical properties of water and its potential industrial applications. Unfortunately, the situation is not that simple.
Researchers indicate that achieving such high pressures and temperatures in the laboratory seems unlikely for now. However, the study's authors do not intend to give up and want to see if similar effects can be achieved at lower pressures and temperatures.
