CLATHRATES Meaning and
Definition
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Clathrates, also known as gas hydrates, are a type of inclusion compound where gas molecules are trapped within a lattice-like structure of water molecules. These compounds form under specific conditions of temperature and pressure, typically at low temperatures and high pressures. The resulting solid-like substance resembles ice, but instead of being composed solely of water molecules, it consists of a network of cages or cavities that enclose gas molecules.
Clathrates are primarily composed of water, but they can entrap a variety of gas molecules, including methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Methane clathrates are the most common and well-studied form, and they are found in vast quantities beneath the ocean floor, within permafrost regions, and in some sedimentary deposits.
Due to their unique structure, clathrates have attracted significant attention as a potential source of energy and as a contributor to climate change. Large deposits of methane clathrates could provide a vast unconventional gas resource, but extracting the trapped gas presents several technical and environmental challenges. Additionally, the release of large amounts of methane from clathrates due to climate change or industrial activity has the potential to significantly influence Earth's climate, as methane is a potent greenhouse gas.
In summary, clathrates are inclusion compounds in which gas molecules are trapped within a lattice of water molecules. They have notable implications in energy exploration, climate change, and Earth's carbon cycle.
Etymology of CLATHRATES
The word "clathrates" is derived from the Latin word "clatratus", which means "lattice-like". It is a past participle form of the verb "clatrare", which means "to secure with bars" or "to make a lattice or trellis". The Latin root term "clathra" means "lattice" or "gridiron". The word "clathrates" is commonly used in the field of chemistry to refer to compounds in which one molecule is trapped within the open framework of another molecule, forming a lattice-like structure.
