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Neptune and Uranus have odd magnetic fields, which could be due to a molecule that is unique to them and cannot be produced on Earth.
Why Do Neptune and Uranus Have Weird Magnetic Fields?
In a new study, scientists have discovered the possible presence of a chemical known as aquodiium, an elusive relative of the ammonium ion. If accurate, that would account for anomalies in the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune.
The cores of Uranus and Neptune are nearly the same because of their same mass and size. Like Jupiter and Saturn, both have rocky cores, but unlike their larger neighbors, their interior pressures are insufficient to transform molecular hydrogen into a liquid metal that conducts electricity. Rather, a sizable mantle of ammonia and cold water forms some 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) underneath the surface of these worlds.
This is where things get interesting - according to the study's authors, ions functioning as charge carriers may be responsible for the planets' peculiar magnetic fields. Atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons might have a net electrical charge known as an ion.
These ions related to the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune may also consist of hydronium, ammonium, and aquodiium rather than only being freestanding protons.
This is significant since the formation of stable aquodiium-four hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, or H4O2+-has never been detected before because of the high energy barrier associated with the addition of a second proton to the hydronium (H3O+) molecule, which is necessary for the formation of aquodiium. On the other hand, hydrogen is somewhat simpler to make. The basic process of protonating water creates it. The difficult aspect is the transition from hydronium to aquodiium.
Under typical circumstances, these elements prevent the formation of stable aquodiium. It would only be feasible if the reaction had sufficient energy to push the molecules together despite all the tension, repulsion, and other unmentioned difficulties. That kind of energy is not present on Earth. However, the severe environments of Neptune and Uranus might provide sufficient energy.
Utilizing sophisticated computational simulations, scientists have identified a plausible environment for aquodiium—the intense pressure present in Uranus and Neptune's cores. Furthermore, its presence in this harsh, cold environment could explain the planets' peculiar magnetic fields, which are oddly steeply skewed regarding their axis of rotation.
Why Aquodiium Formation Is Challenging?
In chemistry, a molecule typically exists in its ground or lowest energy state. This is because nature favors the path of least resistance, and the ground state reduces elements like electrostatic repulsion, which occurs when charged atoms or groups within the molecule repel one another, and bond strain, which occurs when atoms within the molecule are connected at less-than-ideal angles. Creating aquodiium (H4O2+) is challenging because adding a second proton to the hydronium ion causes greater electrostatic repulsion and strain, similar to bringing two positively charged magnets together.
Both obstacles are more readily overcome when a proton is added to water to create hydronium. The resulting molecule has a positive charge focused on only one oxygen atom, and the hydrogen atoms are grouped in a stable geometry around the oxygen atom in the center.
To change this state to aquodiium, you would need to add a second proton to the structure. However, doing so would raise the molecule's positive charge and cause significant electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged protons, upsetting the hydronium's existing molecular structure and causing strain.
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