Difference between revisions of "Water"

From Marspedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(Removing vandalism.)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
'''Water''' is a chemical compound consisting of a single [[oxygen]] atom bonded to two [[hydrogen]] atoms (''chemical symbols:'' H<sub>2</sub>O). Clean water is essential to almost all known forms of life, and its unique properties make it invaluable for most industrial processes. Although water in the liquid phase is abundant on Earth, its scarcity on Mars make it into a critical resource to be treasured.  
 
'''Water''' is a chemical compound consisting of a single [[oxygen]] atom bonded to two [[hydrogen]] atoms (''chemical symbols:'' H<sub>2</sub>O). Clean water is essential to almost all known forms of life, and its unique properties make it invaluable for most industrial processes. Although water in the liquid phase is abundant on Earth, its scarcity on Mars make it into a critical resource to be treasured.  
  
==More sources of water==
+
This site is crazy :) hotel and flight packages cheap hotels paris mortgages  034
The Martian [[atmosphere]] contains a small percentage of water. With liquefaction technology the production of water should be able all over the planet's surface. An [[experimental setup#water out of the atmosphere|experimental setup]] is necessary to find out all about the viability of this approach.
 
 
 
Since the discovery of [[caves]] scientists believe in the possibility of water ice on the ground of the caves. Water ice is abundant under the ground atleast near the poles, and probably elsewhere too.
 
  
 
==Usage==
 
==Usage==

Revision as of 06:05, 2 July 2008

Water is a chemical compound consisting of a single oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms (chemical symbols: H2O). Clean water is essential to almost all known forms of life, and its unique properties make it invaluable for most industrial processes. Although water in the liquid phase is abundant on Earth, its scarcity on Mars make it into a critical resource to be treasured.

This site is crazy :) hotel and flight packages cheap hotels paris mortgages 034

Usage

Drinking water

The human metabolism requires regularly the intake of fresh water. Since water is rare on Mars the recycling of all excretion is a must. There are two ways: Wastewater can be treated with technical means, which is partially done on the ISS already. Alternatively, the water can be kept in a natural cycle, using the greenhouses.

Industrial processes

Many industrial processes considered for a Mars settlement, in particular the production of methanol and methane, require hydrogen gas. This can be obtained by electrolysis, with oxygen gas as a byproduct.

Most other processes require the use of significant quantities of water as a solvent for reagents such as acids or ammonia.

Open issues

  • What is known about the isotope ratio of Martian water?
  • Is the higher deuterium portion a health risk?
  • How will the excess deuterium be filtered out?

External Links

References