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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Dissolution dynamics of NaCl nanocrystal in liquid water
Yong Yang1, Sheng Meng, L F Xu
1Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing.
Abstract:
The dissolution dynamics of a NaCl nanocrystal in liquid water was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. The dissolution process was found to start with a Cl(-) ion at a corner site, followed by a Na(+) ion nearby. Both show directional preference in the dissolution path. An ion sequence with alternating charge, i.e., Cl(-), Na(+), Cl(-), Na(+), etc. was found to dominate the dissolution process. This image can be understood from the ionic hydration structures and the Coulomb interaction between the ions.
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