Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Entropy and Solvation

Entropy and Solvation

The process of surrounding a solute with solvent is called solvation. It involves evenly distributing the solute within the solvent. The rule of thumb for determining a solvent for a given compound is that like dissolves like. A good solvent has molecular characteristics similar to those of the compound to be dissolved. For example, polar solutions dissolve polar solutes, and apolar solvents dissolve apolar solutes. A polar solvent is a solvent that has a high dielectric constant (ϵ ≥ 15); an...

Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties

Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties

Solubility

Solubility

Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...

Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility

Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility

Intermolecular forces are attractive forces that exist between molecules. They dictate several bulk properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (miscibilities) of substances. Molar mass, molecular shape, and polarity affect the strength of different intermolecular forces, which influence the magnitude of physical properties across a family of molecules.
Temporary attractive forces like dispersion are present in all molecules, whether they are polar or nonpolar. They...

Colloids

Colloids

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular Forces

Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Second harmonic generation for in situ analysis of electrode surface structure.

Applied optics·2010

Same author

Tunable picosecond infrared laser system based on parametric amplification in KTP with a Ti:sapphire amplifier.

Optics letters·2009

Same author

Sum frequency generation surface spectra of ice, water, and acid solution investigated by an exciton model.

The Journal of chemical physics·2007

Same author

Molecular bonding and interactions at aqueous surfaces as probed by vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy.

Chemical reviews·2002

Same author

The role of MRI and nerve root biopsy in the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis.

The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques·2002

Same author

Water at hydrophobic surfaces: weak hydrogen bonding and strong orientation effects.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2001

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Published on: April 19, 2021

Integration or segregation: how do molecules behave at oil/water interfaces?

F G Moore¹, G L Richmond

¹Department of Physics, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington 99362, USA.

Accounts of Chemical Research

|May 30, 2008

Summary

Weak interactions at the oil-water interface reveal surprising molecular behavior. Researchers used vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to observe oriented water molecules and organic layering.

More Related Videos

In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids

In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids

Published on: November 18, 2022

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS

Published on: March 3, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Published on: April 19, 2021

In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids

In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids

Published on: November 18, 2022

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS

Published on: March 3, 2017

Area of Science:

Physical Chemistry
Surface Science
Interfacial Phenomena

Background:

The behavior of water molecules near hydrophobic surfaces, like oil-water interfaces, is crucial for many chemical and biological processes.
Historically, oil-on-water phenomena were observed for practical applications, but recent research focuses on molecular-level understanding.
Understanding these interfaces is key to processes such as micelle formation, protein folding, and chemical separations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the molecular-level interactions and hydrogen bonding between water and organic liquids at their interface.
To explore the interfacial behavior, including molecular orientation and layering, at the hydrophobic surface.
To combine experimental and computational methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of aqueous interfaces.

Main Methods:

Utilized vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS), a surface-specific technique, to probe molecular structures at aqueous interfaces.
Employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to calculate vibrational sum frequency (VSF) spectra.
Compared experimental VSFS data with simulation-derived spectra to validate molecular models.

Main Results:

Observed unexpected weak interactions between hydrophilic water and hydrophobic organic molecules at the interface.
Found evidence of highly oriented water molecules and distinct layering of the organic medium extending into the bulk liquid.
Demonstrated penetration of oriented water into the organic layer for certain organic liquids, driven by interfacial molecular interactions.

Conclusions:

Weak interactions at hydrophobic interfaces lead to complex and ordered molecular arrangements.
The combination of VSFS and MD simulations provides a robust approach for studying interfacial molecular processes.
This work advances the understanding of molecular behavior at aqueous interfaces and validates molecular models.