Solvation is the process of surrounding and binding molecules with water molecules. It’s a process that affects almost all chemical and biochemical reactions, and one that could be manipulated to control the behavior of these reactions. A new study from researchers at the University of Tokyo has revealed an unprecedented level of control over solvation, allowing them to assemble water molecules around an atom one by one.

By using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to observe the assembly of water molecules around an atom, the researchers were able to observe the solvation process in unprecedented detail. They found that it was possible to control the number of water molecules that formed around the atom, and even the direction in which the water molecules were arranged. This level of control could provide a better understanding of how solvation can affect chemical and biochemical reactions.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org