Real-Life Alchemists? Scientists Transform Purified Water Into Shiny, Golden Metal
Since the discovery of gold and precious metals, people have been driven by the need to obtain more of them, enchanted by the wealth they represent. But some people in particular are obsessed with the idea that…
Since the discovery of gold and precious metals, people have been driven by the need to obtain more of them, enchanted by the wealth they represent.
But some people in particular are obsessed with the idea that something humble could be turned into something incredibly valuable — namely, something like lead into gold.
Alchemy is a mysterious, ancient practice that captured the imaginations of many, and to some degree, it still holds that sway over us in modern times — which is why one recent discovery has many laypeople entranced.
In “Spectroscopic evidence for a gold-coloured metallic water solution,” a study published in the journal Nature on July 28, a group of scientists explains that they were able to momentarily take purified water and change it into a shiny, golden metal through a series of special preparations and conditions.
While water that contains salt conducts electricity, purified water that has been distilled acts as an insulator and must be transformed through pressure in order to conduct.
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“It consists of H2O molecules that are loosely linked to one another via hydrogen bonds,” reads the EurekAlert! webpage on the new study.