Rotational parity and separation of water molecules into spin isomers

A theoretical explanation is proposed for the effect of variations in concentration of water molecule spin isomers in the gas phase during the interaction of molecules with a solid adsorbent surface. The explanation is based on antisymmetric (AS) correlation between proton spin moments and molecule rotation. A new AS correlation occurs during the interaction of the molecule with a dc electric field near the surface. Due to the new (external) AS correlation, ortho-and parawater molecules are formed; separation into spin modifications occurs over degenerate states of each rotational level of the molecule. Water molecule separation into spin modifications at the previous (internal) AS correlation occurs over rotational levels of molecules. The ratio of ortho-and parawater concentrations in the gas phase at the external AS correlation is compared with experimental data on chromatographic separation of water spin isomers. Quantitative agreement is observed between the calculated ratio and the ratio measured for water molecules at the final separation stage.