Water's Structure & its Role in the Origin of Organic Molecules:                              ICE: at temps below freezing (0◦) water molecules assume their most STABLE             configuration, organizing neatly and strengthening its H-bonds over hundreds             of water molecules (fig). Crystalline water's (ice's) shape is HEXAGONAL,             with every oxygen atom forming a 6-fold pattern as we see in snowflakes. LIQUID WATER: H-bonds redistribute rapidly & constantly (CUBIC), thus the structure             of water adjusts to its local environment, i.e., an air bubble can rise through liquid             water, but not through structure solid ice. Organic molecules can travel between             liquid water molecules and recombine into more complex organics, characteristic             of living things.  Solid hexagonally structured ice expels organic compounds from             its crystal structure preventing their forming more complex polymers. AMORPHOUS ICE:  at temps close to absolute zero (10 to 65◦K) the oxygen atoms can             stack up in CUBIC H-bond patterns forming amorphous ice.  Without a structured             or specific order UV light/radiation (energy) causes this ice to "flow" like liquid             water and thus organic molecules [CH3-OH & NH4] can form within from inorganics             such as CO, CO2.  At temps from 65 to 125◦K amorphous ice becomes less dense             and H-bonds break and reform allowing the recombination of organics            (albeit much slower than in liquid water - 100,000 years vs. 1 second).

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