How does bound water become unbound water?

Question

I'm writing a science fiction and one of the things I want to know is how bound water can become free water. I want to know some ways to unbind water.

Answer 1

The solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of water are defined in terms of how tightly the molecules are bound to each other (rigidly, loosely, and not at all, respectively). In addition, water can be bound to other molecules to produce hydrates. The firing of a clay pot in a kiln, for example, causes water to be unbound from the hydrates, resulting in a much harder material. Conversely, *adding* water to cement creates a hydrate that is much harder than the original mix. If you heat concrete too much, the water becomes unbound and it disintegrates into the original powder.

Answer 2

What are "bound" and "free" water in the first place? Bound to what? Free from what?





==== Edit ====

Ah, you mean crystalline-bound? As in the way which water can be adsorbed into (for example) silica or clay? Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adsorption



It's easy to unbind by making it entropically (or energetically) advantageous for the water to come off the surface, usually by heating. One could also apply a strong electric gradient. There are also chemical processes (which, on a microscopic level, are simply driven by electric gradients, too) which may unbind the water. By far the most common method, though, is by heating the substance.

Answer 3

Unbound Water