molecuulions

Molecuulions are a hypothetical class of charged molecular clusters that straddle the line between molecules and ions. The term combines elements of “molecule” and “ion” to describe entities that preserve a discrete molecular framework while bearing a net electric charge. In speculative chemistry and some science-fiction contexts, molecuulions are used to model reaction pathways where ions and neutral molecules interact closely, forming short-lived intermediates that can rearrange bonding without losing their overall charge.

Structural and energetic properties of molecuulions vary with size and composition. They range from a few to a few dozen atoms and can carry net charges from negative to positive. Their stability is highly environment-dependent, being more persistent in cold or solid-like matrices and less so in high-temperature plasmas. Internally, they may feature a core covalent scaffold with a delocalized charge distribution, allowing rapid rearrangement of structure and multiple accessible charge states.

Formation and detection methods are modeled after experimental techniques used for ionized clusters. In lab analogs, molecuulions can be produced by ionizing neutral clusters via electron impact, laser ablation, or electrospray processes. They are typically studied with mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and computational chemistry to map potential energy surfaces and possible reaction channels. Lifetimes are often short in the gas phase, on the order of microseconds to milliseconds, though they may be stabilized in cooler or more tightly bound environments.

Significance and use vary by context. In theoretical chemistry, the concept helps explore ion–molecule interactions, charge transfer, and cluster growth. In fiction and speculative reporting, molecuulions are sometimes depicted as exotic intermediates with unique reactivity, offering a convenient device to explain unusual chemical phenomena.