Color of Water molecules
Dirk Horst
>
>I have some second grade students that have been wondering about
>molecules. They have become fascinated with the idea of molecules,
> atoms and subatomic particles. They are especially interested in what
> color a molecule would be, say water. Any information would be
> greatly appreciated.
>Thanks,
>Bill Wallace
>Cybrarian
>Manzano Day School
>Albuquerque, NM
>m...@rt66.com
"The color of a water molcule" huh? <grin> Definitely sounds like a
2nd grade question to me. I recall going to a planetarium as a child
and wondering where "planet purple" was. :)
Anyway, to answer your question, here's what I think I know:
Objects will seem to have a certain color when they REFLECT that color.
If an object absorbs a certain color, then that light will be lost and
not reach our eyes. Water tends to reflect and scatter more blue light
than any other color. This is why large pools of water will seem to
acquire a bluish tinge.
Also (this may be over the 2nd graders' heads, but it is good FYI)
water tends to absorb red light, heating up in the process. In
particular, water *really* soaks up infrared and microwave light. This
is how that great gadget in your kitchen works - ever try to microwave
stale or dry food? It just doesn't work too well because there is no
water in the food to absorb the microwaves and thus heat up.
Hope this helped,
---Dirk H. (dho...@ix.netcom.com)
MRichar353
that they do they scatter blue light much more than red. The same is true
for air. That is why the sky and ocean are blue and the sunset is red.
(The sunset is red because the blue light has been scattered away, leaving
the red light).
Therefore the reason why the sky and oceans are blue is that air and water
are blue, at least a little bit.
Mark Richardson
Oz
In <43qhsg$g...@mack.rt66.com> Bill Wallace <m...@rt66.com> writes:
>
>I have some second grade students that have been wondering about
>molecules. They have become fascinated with the idea of molecules,
> atoms and subatomic particles. They are especially interested in what
> color a molecule would be, say water. Any information would be
> greatly appreciated.
Er, what level IS second grade?
I would be a little cautious giving them the impression that (with
light) you can see a molecule. I would perhaps start discussing light
and why you can't see a molecule with it. I suspect that this might
deflect the question until they are better able to cope with the
answer. Really molecular absorbtion and resonance may be better a bit
down the line although an old loudspeaker, a spring and a small mass
could show it quite well if you prepare it carefully.
--
-------------------------------
'Oz "When I knew little, all was certain. The more I learnt,
the less sure I was. Is this the uncertainty principle?"
Vinnie Saladino
>
>I have some second grade students that have been wondering about
>molecules. They have become fascinated with the idea of molecules, atoms
>and subatomic particles.
>They are especially interested in what color a
>molecule would be, say water. Any information would be greatly
>appreciated.
Freeze some molecules, and check out it's 'color'. I tried it
and found it to be clear.