Distance Between Ions and Water Molecules in Hydrated Solutions

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the average distances between hydrated ions, specifically sodium and potassium, and water molecules. It highlights the complexity of determining these distances, noting that they can vary depending on the number of water molecules involved and the specific conditions such as temperature. For potassium, the K+-H2O distance is mentioned to range from 2.5 to 3.5 Å. The conversation references various academic sources and papers that discuss ionic radii in water, emphasizing the importance of consulting reliable scientific literature for accurate values. Additionally, there is a critique of overly simplistic representations of ion hydration, with a suggestion that the actual distances may differ from those depicted in simplified diagrams. The discussion concludes with a request for examples where the distance between oxygen and potassium could be as low as 1.5 Å, indicating a desire for further clarification on the topic.
somasimple
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Hi All,

What are the average distance of a ion and a water molecule when it is hydrated.

1/ for sodium?
2/ potassium?

Thanks.
 
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What's the context? Are you asked to estimate it? Or you just need the value?
 
I just need average values for sodium and potassium.
Contexts:
1/ with 1 water molecule until 4 water molecules (see picture for a sodium example).
 

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Google "ionic radii in water". Just beware, as some of those listed can already take hydration into account.
 
Is this one http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TFN-4KPX2FG-5&_user=2552272&_coverDate=10%2F05%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1463541728&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2552272&md5=83e5857fb22d5ca6a0c410434cee74df&searchtype=a"?
 
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I don't have access, so can't tell you much. But my guess is that it should at least list sources of the radii used.
 
Click on figures and tables. There are many values.
BTW, I may buy it.

Fig. 5. (drawn to scale) The oxygen (O) and two hydrogen (H) atoms of water are shown as circles with covalent radii, d(O) and d(H). The circles on the right represent ions with aqueous ionic radii, d(i), aq = kd(A). The length of the hydration bond, d(–O) is the distance between the center of O(water) and P(i/w) (shown as dotted lines in Figs. I–V): (I) Li+, cdots, three dots, centered, Cs+: k = 0.81 = phi/2, d(–O) = 0.64 (±) 0.03 Å. d(i), aq (in Å): 1.42 (Li+) < 1.65 (Ag+ circle with dashes) < 1.74 (Na+) < 2.16 (K+) < 2.26 (Rb+) < 2.49 (Cs+). (II) F−, cdots, three dots, centered, I−: k = 1.57 = 2/phi1/2, d(–O) = 1.60 (±) 0.04 Å. d(i), aq (in Å): 1.11 (F−) < 1.48 (Cl−) < 1.74 (Br−) < 2.08 (I−). The ‘hydrogen bond’ length d(–H) = d(–O) − d(OH) = 0.63 Å. (III): Ni+2, cdots, three dots, centered, Ba+2: k = 0.80 not, vert, similar phi/2 = 0.81, d(–O) = 1.06 (±) 0.08 Å. d(i), aq (in Å) (only some are shown to avoid overcrowding): 0.98 (Ni+2) < 1.19 (Hg+2) < 1.32 (Mg+2) < 2.06 (Ba+2). (IV): Al+3, cdots, three dots, centered, Eu+3: k = 0.47 = (2/phi3), d(–O) = 1.40 (±) 0.06 Å. d(i), aq (in Å) (only some are shown): 0.55 (Al+3) < 0.63 (Rh+3) < 0.81 (Tl+3) < 0.91 (Yb+3, dashed line) < 1.08 (Eu+3, dash and dot line). (V) Lu+3, cdots, three dots, centered, La+3: k = 0.62 = phi/2, d(–O) = 1.37 (±) 0.05 Å. d(i), aq in increasing order (in Å) (only some are shown): 0.97 (Lu+3) < 1.01 (Y+3, dashed line) < 1.13 (Sm+3) < 1.17 (La+3).
 
I can buy it as well, but I won't buy it just to spend money :-p
 
I think the responses are in my previous message.
 
  • #10
No, that's a silly (to the extent of bordering on crankish) paper.

And your question makes no sense. These ions do not bind consistently to any particular number of water molecules in liquid water, and the coordination structure is dependent on the coordination number. The K+-H2O distance can be anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5 Å, and that's dependent on temperature, etc. See, e.g. http://jcp.aip.org/resource/1/jcpsa6/v132/i12/p124503_s1" . (Which, unlike the other, isn't indulging in numerology.)
 
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  • #11
and this one
http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~serdar/papers/jpc08-pol.pdf
 
  • #12
or this one?
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp075913v
or these books? ;
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cr00019a014
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cr00090a003
 
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  • #14
What's your point? That you know how to use google scholar/chemfinder/isi? I do too.

So if you've been reading these papers, why are you under the impression that hydration of an ion looks like the picture you posted?
 
  • #15
1/ I was just asking for the relevance/quality of the papers.
2/ The picture is very simplified. It is flat but it is very convenient to draw that way. It seems that the distances from oxygen to a ion is a bit farer than my trial.
 
  • #16
It is said that distance from Oxygen atom and potassium atom is around 2.5, 2.65 Angstroms.
Is it possible to find some example where this distance is far less and around 1.5 Angstrom?
 
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