Ortho and Para Molecules of Water in Electric Field

Abstract

Stark effect is calculated by the perturbation theory method separately for the ortho and para water molecules. At room temperature, a 30%-difference in the energy change is found for the two species put in electric field. This implies a sorting of the ortho and para water molecules in non-uniform electric fields. The ortho/para water separation is suggested to occur in the course of steam sorption on a solid surface and of large-scale atmospheric processes.

4 pages, 2 figures