The dielectric relaxation of water between 0°C and 35°C

precise complex permittivity data from our laboratory for pure water at temperatures 0.2 less than or equal to v/degrees C less than or equal to 35 are combined with literature results to cover the frequency range 0.2 less than or equal to v/GHz less than or equal to 410. A description of the <(epsilon)over cap> (v) spectra requires the superposition of two Debye processes. Nonetheless, relaxation times and dispersion amplitudes discourage the discussion of the water structure in terms of a two-state model. The interpretation of the fast process with the relaxation time tau(2) requires additional information, whereas it is possible to relate the relaxation time tau(1) of the dominating slow process to the production rate of mobile water molecules. From the corresponding Eyring free energy, Delta G(not equal), hydrogen-bond probabilities are deduced, which are in good agreement with data from other methods. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.