• Question: Based on recent news, through quantum computing (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17688257), is it possible for water to change, to or from saltwater, purewater and freschwater by converting it into entangled particles?

    Asked by to Ben, Emily, Hattie, Jemma, Veronica on 24 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Emily Hayward

      Emily Hayward answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Great question Muzzasif2000,

      Quantum computing is a relatively new area of science therefore there are still a lot of unknowns. It tends to model things and come up with what could happen rather than sctually alter chemicals. The difference between saltwater, purewater and freshwater are based on the chemicals which are also present in small quantities for example pure water is only H2O molecules and contains absolutely nothing else, whereas freshwater can contain small amounts of minerals, metals, salts etc and sea water contains a lot of salt as well as minerals, metals etc…..so its not actually the form of water changing, its whats added to it. It could be possible to model the changes which woul happen in water with the addition or removal of different elements/salts/minerals, however it wouldnt be possible to actually make the water change type. the most likely use of quantum computing would be to determine how much energy would be required to clean up water which is dirty or to calculate how much energy is required to remove everything from seawater to make it pure water…..it would be useful to know the exact energy required to see of things like making cars which run on water is ecconomical 🙂

    • Photo: Jemma Rowlandson

      Jemma Rowlandson answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Hi!

      Haha, and we have moved swiftly into the realm of quantum physics! I love these questions! Right, I am no physicist but I will certainly have a go at delving into the world of quantum.

      First things first, entangled particles (in quantum physics) remain connected no matter what distance is between them. Something done to one particle affects the other one, even if it’s on other side of the world. Strange right? Albert Einstein didn’t believe it, he’s once called it ‘spooky action at a distance’ 🙂

      One of the best ways is to think of two hydrogen atoms. Each atom has it’s own little magnetic field with a north and south pole. The atoms don’t like it if both their north poles are facing in the same direction (just like normal magnets, they repel). This means if one has a north pole pointing up, the other will have it’s north pole pointing down. If these two atoms were entangled then (no matter how far apart these hydrogen atoms are) if the north pole of one hydrogen changes direction, then the north pole of the other does so as well.

      Water contains two hydrogen atoms and I’m sure entanglement can be seen in water molecules as well (although I’d have to have a long chat with a physicist to be sure). The thing is though, if two molecules are entangled it only really affects those water molecules themselves.

      Saltwater and freshwater both have other molecules floating around like salt and minerals. Entanglement of two water molecules will not make these molecules suddenly appear in pure water to make salt/freshwater. Same as they won’t suddenly make those molecules disappear to make pure water. So although particle entanglement is very interesting and kind of weird, it will not affect what molecules are in the water. And so it cannot change freshwater to pure water or saltwater.

      I hope this made sense to you. If you have any questions ask in the comments section and I’ll do my best to answer!

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