Electrostatic origins of specific ion effects revealed

Researchers in Australia have uncovered the electrostatic origins of specific ion effects for anions in solution. By establishing correlations between the Coulomb interactions of a series of anions with their solution properties, the scientists confirmed that it is electrostatics that give rise to the divergent effects of anions in biological and chemical environments. These findings offer a new physical basis for the Hofmeister series, which orders ions according to their ability to salt-out proteins. The group hopes its work will help scientists better understand and predict specific ion effects, with wide reaching implications for studying these phenomena across the physical sciences.