Question

2. Water forms many solid inclusion compounds, called clathrate hydrates. In clathrate hydrates water molecules are arranged to form polyhedral cages around the enclosed molecules or atoms. An example of such a cage is shown. (a) What do the corners of the structure represent? What do the edges represent? (4) (b) How do enclosed molecules, such as methane or dihydrogen, interact with the cage? (E.g., covalent bonds, ionic interactions, etc.) (2) (c) Methane clathrate hydrate is an important clathrate. Why? (2)

2. Water forms many solid inclusion compounds, called clathrate hydrates. In clathrate hydrates water molecules are arranged to form polyhedral cages around the enclosed molecules or atoms. An example of such a cage is shown. (a) What do the corners of the structure represent? What do the edges represent? (4) (b) How do enclosed molecules, such as methane or dihydrogen, interact with the cage? (E.g., covalent bonds, ionic interactions, etc.) (2) (e) Methane clathrate hydrate is an important clathrate. Why? (2)

Answer 1

Clathrate hydrate are 3D network of hydrogen bonded  water molecule which is made at specific Temperature and pressure . naturally it found in beneath of sea . It can also be prepare in lab .

a) . The corner of hydrate clathrate represents the O atom of H2O . At edge H atom present , these forms the polygon structure .

b) . Gaseous molecules like methane , chlorine , carbon dioxide etc are trapped under this network . Methane gas is bounded by weak electrostatic force of Interaction which is known as Hydrogen bonding .

c) . Under the sea there are many biological species which anaerobically produce tones of tones methane gas , which is trapped by clathrate hydrate . As methane gas is a greenhouse gas . If these clathrate break down and release all methane gas , which cause global warming world wide .