Issue 29, 2011

Initial stages of salt crystal dissolution determined with ab initio molecular dynamics

Abstract

The initial stages of NaCl dissolution in liquid water have been examined with state-of-the-art ab initio molecular dynamics and free energy sampling techniques. Our simulations reveal a complex multi-step process triggered by the departure of Cl ions from the lattice, with a well-defined intermediate state wherein departing ions are partially solvated but remain in contact with the crystal. The polarizability of Cl is identified as the source of the anion's preferential initial dissolution, an effect which leads a forcefield based description of NaCl dissolution to fail to identify a preference for Cl over Na dissolution.

Graphical abstract: Initial stages of salt crystal dissolution determined with ab initio molecular dynamics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
06 Apr 2011
Accepted
11 May 2011
First published
02 Jun 2011

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 13162-13166

Initial stages of salt crystal dissolution determined with ab initio molecular dynamics

L. Liu, A. Laio and A. Michaelides, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 13162 DOI: 10.1039/C1CP21077G

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