Scientists from the UK and Italy have investigated what happens when salt dissolves in water. Using a computer simulation that follows the movement of the sodium and chloride molecules, the studies revealed that a complex multi-step process is triggered by the departure of chloride ions from the salt structure, with a well-defined intermediate state wherein departing ions are partially solvated but remain in contact with the crystal.
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Reference:
L-M Liu, A Laio and A Michaelides, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011
DOI: 10.1039/c1cp21077g
