Liquid Water: Molecular Correlation Functions from X-Ray Diffraction

Abstract

For nearly spherical molecules the x-ray scattering from liquids yields structure and correlation functions for molecular scattering centers. The distribution of electron density in a water molecule is very nearly spherical, and orientational correlation between molecules in the liquid is not ``seen'' by x rays. Structure and correlation functions for molecular scattering centers are derived from x-ray data on water and tabulated. They provide a sensitive test for future work on a molecular theory of liquid water.