The "autothixotropic" phenomenon of water and its role in proton transfer

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 12; no. 11; pp. 7481 - 7494
• Main Authors: Verdel, Nada, Jerman, Igor, Bukovec, Peter
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-11-2011; Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
• Subjects: conductivity; Hydrogen Bonding; hydrophilic surfaces; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; ions; Ions - chemistry; Protons; Review; Solutions - chemistry; thixotropy; water; Water - chemistry; ions; thixotropy; conductivity; hydrophilic surfaces; water
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms12117481

In an experimental study, significantly higher conductivity values than those of freshly prepared chemically analogous solutions were found in aged (~one year old) aqueous solutions, except for those stored frozen. The results surprisingly resemble a previously noticed phenomenon in liquid water, which develops when water is stored in closed vessels. This was observed as a disturbing phenomenon in gravimetric measurements and in luminescence spectroscopy measurements. The phenomenon was termed "autothixotropy of water" due to the weak gel-like behavior which develops spontaneously over time, in which ions seem to play an important role. Here, according to experimental results we propose that contact with hydrophilic surfaces also plays an important role. The role of the "autothixotropy of water" in proton transfer is also discussed.