Hydration Energy
What is Hydration Energy?
Hydration energy (enthalpy of hydration) is the energy released when gaseous ions are surrounded by water molecules to form aqueous ions, reflecting the strength of ion-dipole interactions between the ion and water. It is always exothermic and increases with increasing charge density of the ion (higher charge and smaller ionic radius). Hydration energy plays a critical role in determining the solubility of ionic compounds, since dissolution is favorable when the sum of hydration energies exceeds the lattice energy.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Hydration energy (enthalpy of hydration) is the energy released when gaseous ions are surrounded by water molecules to form aqueous ions, reflecting the strength of ion-dipole interactions between the ion and water. It is always exothermic and increases with increasing charge density of the ion (higher charge and smaller ionic radius). Hydration energy plays a critical role in determining the solubility of ionic compounds, since dissolution is favorable when the sum of hydration energies exceeds the lattice energy.