Liquid polymorphism, density anomaly and H-bond disruption in an associating lattice gases

We have investigated the effects of either distorting hydrogen bonds or removing proton degeneracy on the thermodynamic properties of a minimal model for associating liquids. The presence of two liquid phases and a density anomaly is unaffected in both cases. Increasing the degeneracy of bonded structures leads to lower temperature critical points and a steeper liquid-liquid coexistence line, implying a low density liquid of larger entropy. Analysis of the hydrogen bond net accross the phase diagram indicates that the density anomaly is accompanied by a steep reduction of hydrogen bond density, which introduces a restriction on a correlation which has been preconized long ago. This feature is present independent of bond distortion or of the presence of proton entropy.