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- The notion of opposite charges attract and like repel has to be modified when dealing with certain types of solvents where like charges may group together.
Opposites charges attract; like charges repel" is a long-held fundamental principle of physics that you might have heard at school, but your teacher may have been wrong.
Researchers from the University of Oxford's chemistry department found that like-charged particles submerged in solutions were able to attract each other from long distances, depending on the solvent used and the sign of the charge.
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The study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
It's clickbait. You didn't miss anything in the article. In a particular solvent, it is more energetically favorable for the solvent to move like charges closer together. The charges are still repelling each other, of course.sbrothy said:I must admit I'm as skeptic as @Bystander. To be honest it almost sounds to me like homeopathy. Then again what do I know...?
Being published in a respected journal is no guarantee anymore, is it? Was it ever?
EDIT: Then again I could of course have read the article before proffering my meaning, I apologize.
Solvents are substances, typically liquids, that dissolve a solute to form a solution. They play a crucial role in chemical reactions, as they can influence the rate and outcome of reactions, facilitate the transport of reactants, and affect the solubility of various compounds. Understanding solvents is essential for designing efficient chemical processes in industries such as pharmaceuticals, materials science, and environmental chemistry.
Solvents can significantly impact reaction rates by altering the energy of activation, the solvation of reactants, and the overall reaction environment. Polar solvents can stabilize charged intermediates, while non-polar solvents may favor reactions involving neutral species. The choice of solvent can therefore optimize reaction conditions, leading to faster or more selective outcomes.
Solvent polarity is a measure of how a solvent interacts with solutes, particularly in terms of dipole moments and dielectric constants. Polar solvents tend to stabilize ionic and polar solutes, promoting their dissolution and reactivity. Conversely, non-polar solvents are better suited for dissolving non-polar compounds. The polarity of the solvent can thus dictate the solubility of reactants and the mechanism of the reaction.
Recent advancements in solvent design include the development of "green" solvents that are more environmentally friendly and less toxic than traditional solvents. Innovations such as ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, and bio-based solvents are gaining attention for their unique properties and potential applications in sustainable chemistry. Researchers are actively exploring how these new solvents can improve reaction efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The choice of solvent can influence the purity of the final product by affecting the solubility of by-products and impurities. A well-chosen solvent can help selectively dissolve desired products while precipitating out unwanted substances. Additionally, solvent properties such as boiling point and volatility can impact purification techniques like recrystallization and distillation, leading to higher purity levels in the final product.