Spatial structure of water over the whole region of short-range ordering

A new approach to spatial analysis of molecular arrangement over the whole region of short-range ordering is suggested. The structural properties of water are calculated by the Monte-Carlo method using the SPC/E intermolecular interaction potential. Structural correlations are considered at distances of up to 10 Å. The functions g _OO, g _OH, and g _HH, and the partial functions corresponding to different local densities of surroundings and different coordination numbers of water molecules have been obtained. An analytical procedure has been developed to find the spatial distribution of particles, and the total and partial functions have been determined for particles of the same (having identical c.n.₁ and c.n.₂) and different types. The functions are considered for layers R _min < R < R _max corresponding to different coordination spheres of water molecules (up to 10 Å). A structural model of water is suggested, in which the deviation of the 3D net of H bonds from tetrahedricity is associated with the formation of configurations complementary to icelike configurations of water. The model is supported by the results of computer simulation.