Hydration Energy

Definition

The energy released when separated ions are surrounded and stabilized by water molecules, the payoff water collects for dismantling a solid.

The instant an ion breaks free, the nearest water molecules swing toward it and lock on, oxygen ends toward cations and hydrogen ends toward anions, burying it in a hydration shell. These ion-water attractions stabilize the dissolved species and release energy back into the deal. Whether dissolution is worth it depends on how generous this embrace turns out to be relative to the lattice energy.

Related concepts

Polarity · Solvent Power of Water · Lattice Energy

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🔥 thermodynamics