Clathrate Ice Cage Structure Model

This water cage ice model illustrates the hexagonal crystal lattice structure and consists of 20 water molecules formed into a "cage " called a methane clathrate, ice clathrate or clathrate hydrate. These gas hydrates usually form two crystal lattice cubic structures. Type I (aka sI) with a unit cell of 46 water molecules, that form 2 small and 6 large cages from the pentagonal dodecahedron subunit shown in the image.