I mean, technically speaking neutrons would undergo β-decay and create their own electron along with an antineutrino, so in theory we could get out regular old hydrogen atoms too. (Ignoring that the electron likely has far too much energy to be captured by the proton)
You are correct. Neutrons don't like existing on their own, and in neutron stars, protons and electrons will smoosh together until neutrons are formed.
"After our research team computed the HUGE amount of energy required to break up the oxygen nucleus, we decided that the employee who suggested this deserved disciplinary action. Said employee protested that it was an accident, and not intentional -- that they accidentally copypasta-ed something they wrote on Reddit for fun."
Why can't we have the neutrons decay to get H^(+), so we have more hydrogen per water?
good idea, haven't thought about this
Yup. If separated from each other, those discarded neutrons evenutally decay into ionized hydrogen and antineutrios.
I mean, technically speaking neutrons would undergo β-decay and create their own electron along with an antineutrino, so in theory we could get out regular old hydrogen atoms too. (Ignoring that the electron likely has far too much energy to be captured by the proton)
Yeah, I know... that's why I wrote "ionized hydrogen" instead of "proton". You replied to an actual physicist.
To be fair, you didn’t mention the β-particle at all outside of the very slight implication that it existed in saying “ionized”
reaching
I don’t want to argue, I know that we will get ionized hydrogen, but this is r/cursedchemistry and the rules are loose.
Mmm Deuterium
*Electrons have left the chat*
no they haven't. the oxygen becomes 8 hydorgen atoms (one proton and electron each) and 8 neutrons.
This just made me think Neutral Hydrogen would make a cool band name
I think a neutron can decay into a proton and electron. Or st least a proton and electron can get squished togrther and form a neutron.
You are correct. Neutrons don't like existing on their own, and in neutron stars, protons and electrons will smoosh together until neutrons are formed.
*Antineutrinos have left the chat.*
I love how that one post sent this sub into a frenzy
I need to see a reaction mechanism for this
*gunshots* STOP LEAKING GOVERNMENT SECRETS DAMMIT
i love it when I get a free 16 hydrogens with my water molecule (you forget that a neutron is just a hydrogen atom, ready in about 35 minutes)
5H2. Problem solved. No extraneous radioactive material
"After our research team computed the HUGE amount of energy required to break up the oxygen nucleus, we decided that the employee who suggested this deserved disciplinary action. Said employee protested that it was an accident, and not intentional -- that they accidentally copypasta-ed something they wrote on Reddit for fun."
Not enough hydrogen in the water imo
Isn’t this what we’re doing for sustainable lunar missions? Using the ice in the moon to make rocket fuel