How a crystal is solvated in water
The solvation process is of fundamental importance for chemistry – but is very difficult to observe
© RUB, Marquard
“Understanding the solvation process is of fundamental importance for chemistry, since the knowledge could help to influence the interaction between solvents and solvated molecules in a targeted way and thus to control chemical reactions even more comprehensively,” explains Karsten Lucht.
For the study, the chemists analysed crystals of an organic molecule using low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy, which operates at minus 265 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, molecular movements come to a standstill, allowing the individual molecules to be imaged.
Water solvates crystal structure
The researchers fixed the organic molecules onto a special silver surface. The functional groups of the molecules then formed chains. “This structure corresponds to a one-dimensional crystal,” explains Lucht. The scientists then added a small amount of water, which attached itself to the organic molecules at defined positions. Finally, they heated the system to minus 193 degrees Celsius, whereby the crystal structure was completely lost.
“The loss of the molecular order corresponds to the solvation of the organic crystal in a real solution,” describes Karina Morgenstern. The individual organic molecules only interact with the water molecules and can therefore be regarded as solvated. “We were thus able to observe the relevant steps of the solvation process on individual molecules for the first time, i.e. the dry crystal, the attachment of the solvent to it and its complete solvation,” the researcher summarises.
Original publication
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