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A clathrate or clathrate compound or cage compound is a chemical substance consisting of a lattice of one type of molecule trapping and containing a second type of molecule. (The word comes from the Latin clathratus meaning furnished with a lattice). For example, a clathrate hydrate involves a special type of gas hydrate that consists of water molecules enclosing a trapped gas. Scientists believe that compounds on the sea bed have trapped large amounts of methane in similar configurations. Researchers have begun to investigate silicon and germanium clathrates for possible semiconducting and superconducting properties.