Kosmotropic

Solutes are defined as kosmotropic if they contribute to the stability and structure of water-water interactions. Kosmotropes cause water molecules to favorably interact, which also stabilizes intermolecular interactions in macromolecules such as proteins.

Ionic Kosmotropes

Ionic kosmotropes tend to be small or have high charge density. Some ionic kosmotropes are sulfate, phosphate, magnesium(2+) and lithium(1+). Large ions or ions with low charge density (such as bromide, iodide, potassium(1+), caesium(1+)) instead act as chaotropes.

A scale can be established if one refers to the Hofmeister series or looks up the free energy of hydration ($Delta\; G\_\{\; m\; hydr\}$) of the salts. The more negative $Delta\; G\_\{\; m\; hydr\}$, the more kosmotropic the salt.

Nonionic Kosmotropes

Nonionic kosmotropes have no net charge but are very soluble and become very hydrated. Carbohydrates such as trehalose and glucose as well as proline and "tert"-butanol are kosmotropes.

External links

* [http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/kosmos.html Kosmotropes and Chaotropes] (from [http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/index2.html Water Structure and Behavior] )