Dipole—dipole interaction between molecules of hydrogen-bonding polar liquids (HBPLs), which has a collective and long-range nature, determines the basic large-scale properties of such liquids. We present a two-scale phenomenological vector model of polar liquids (VMPLs), wherein the liquid is described by a polarization vector. The simplest version of this model satisfactorily reproduces the well-known properties of HBPLs and interaction between macroscopic objects in a liquid. The possible existence of a ferroelectric phase transition (FPT) in supercooled liquid water is discussed. Near the FPT, fluctuations of the polarization vector increase, which may be the cause of the so-called 'anomalous' properties of water. We propose a quantitative classification of body surfaces based on the properties of their wettability by polar liquids. The ordering of dipoles of molecules located in the near-surface layers of HBPLs and phase transitions in these layers are discussed. The proposed model enables a significant reduction in computer time in numerical simulations of systems that contain a large number of water molecules.

Keywords: polar liquid, dipole—dipole interaction, phase transition, topological phase transition, ferroelectrics, paraelectrics, ferroelectric phase transition, interaction of bodies in a polar liquid, wetting, hydrophobic surfaces, hydrophilic surfaces, wetting phase transitions PACS: 61.20.Gy, 61.30.Hn (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2020.01.038721 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2020/5/b/ 000555764100002 2-s2.0-85090246308 2020PhyU...63..440M Citation: Men’shikov L I, Menshikov P L, Fedichev P O "Effects of action at a distance in water" Phys. Usp. 63 440–486 (2020) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 8th, April 2019, revised: 19th, August 2019, accepted: 15th, January 2020 Оригинал: Меньшиков Л И, Меньшиков П Л, Федичев П О «Эффекты дальнодействия в воде» УФН 190 475–524 (2020); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2020.01.038721