Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids02:26

Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids

58.6K
Particles in a solid are tightly packed together (fixed shape) and often arranged in a regular pattern; in a liquid, they are close together with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape); in a gas, they are far apart with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape). Particles in a solid vibrate about fixed positions (cannot flow) and do not generally move in relation to one another; in a liquid, they move past each other (can flow) but remain in essentially constant contact; in a gas, they move...
58.6K
Molecular and Ionic Solids02:54

Molecular and Ionic Solids

21.1K
Crystalline solids are divided into four types: molecular, ionic, metallic, and covalent network based on the type of constituent units and their interparticle interactions.
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
21.1K
States of Matter01:20

States of Matter

3.3K
Solids, liquids, and gases are the three states of matter commonly found on Earth. A solid is rigid and possesses a definite shape. A liquid flows and takes the shape of its container, except it forms a flat or slightly curved upper surface when acted upon by gravity. Both liquid and solid samples have volumes nearly independent of pressure. A gas takes both the shape and volume of its container.
Scientists have discovered a fourth state of matter, plasma, that occurs naturally in the interiors...
3.3K
Solid–Solid Solutions01:24

Solid–Solid Solutions

111
The temperature-composition phase diagram of two solids, A and B, which are immiscible in the solid phase but form miscible liquids, shows that when the temperature is low, these two exist as separate, pure solids (A and B). As the temperature increases, they transition into a single-phase liquid solution where A and B coexist. Moving from point a1 to a2 in the phase diagram, the composition changes such that solid B begins to separate from the solution, enriching the remaining liquid with A.
111
Liquid–Solid Solutions01:29

Liquid–Solid Solutions

106
The process of a solid dissolving in a liquid to form a solution is governed by the solubility limit, which is the maximum amount of the solid substance, or solute, that can be dissolved in a specific volume of the liquid or solvent. As the solute dissolves, it reaches a point where no more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature - this is known as the saturation point. However, if further solute is added and it manages to dissolve, the solution becomes supersaturated. Supersaturated...
106
Phase Transitions02:31

Phase Transitions

24.0K
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to...
24.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Problematic Attributions of Entropic and Hydrophobic Effects in Drug Interactions.

ACS bio & med chem Au·2025
Same author

Distinction and Quantification of Noncovalent Dispersive and Hydrophobic Effects.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2024
Same author

Strain effects determine the performance of artificial allosteric systems: calixarenes as models.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2019
Same author

A New Strategy for the Destabilization of Double-Stranded Nucleic Acids by Phenylalkylamine Derivatives.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2018
Same author

Stabilities of Hydrogen-Bonded Supramolecular Complexes with Various Numbers of Single Bonds: Attempts To Quantify a Dogma in Host-Guest Chemistry.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2018
Same author

Comment on "HYDROPHOBE Challenge: A Joint Experimental and Computational Study on the Host-Guest Binding of Hydrocarbons to Cucurbiturils, Allowing Explicit Evaluation of Guest Hydration Free-Energy Contributions".

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
14:55

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 17, 2017

16.2K

Limitations and extensions of the lock-and-key principle: differences between gas state, solution and solid state

Hans-Jörg Schneider1

  • 1Universität des Saarlandes, FR Organische Chemie, D 66041 Saarbrücken, Germany. h-j.schneider@mx.uni-saarland.de.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 28, 2015
PubMed
Summary

The lock-and-key model for supramolecular complex formation needs extensions beyond geometric fit. Factors like induced fit, medium, pH, and stereoelectronic effects significantly influence binding affinity, challenging the simple model.

More Related Videos

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
10:37

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters

Published on: January 9, 2014

11.9K
Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
14:44

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR

Published on: December 16, 2013

10.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
14:55

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 17, 2017

16.2K
Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
10:37

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters

Published on: January 9, 2014

11.9K
Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
14:44

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR

Published on: December 16, 2013

10.2K

Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Chemical Crystallography

Background:

  • The traditional lock-and-key model explains molecular recognition based on geometric complementarity.
  • This model often oversimplifies the complex factors influencing supramolecular complex formation and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss necessary extensions to the lock-and-key concept in supramolecular chemistry.
  • To highlight factors beyond geometric fit that govern host-guest interactions.
  • To address challenges in studying weak interactions in crystalline states.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of binding mechanisms.
  • Review of factors influencing binding affinity (e.g., induced fit, allosteric effects, medium, pH).
  • Discussion of stereoelectronic effects and hydrophobic interactions.
  • Analysis of crystal structures, particularly calixarene complexes, using X-ray diffraction.

Main Results:

  • Supramolecular complex formation is influenced by induced fit, allosteric interactions, medium, and pH, not just geometric fit.
  • Stereoelectronic effects and hydrophobic interactions significantly alter binding affinities.
  • Optimal binding can occur when cavities are only partially filled, contradicting the simple lock-and-key principle.
  • Crystal structures may differ from solution structures due to dominant intermolecular forces, complicating weak interaction identification.

Conclusions:

  • The lock-and-key concept requires significant modifications to accurately describe supramolecular complex formation.
  • Understanding host-guest interactions necessitates considering a broader range of chemical and physical factors.
  • Investigating weak interactions in crystals presents unique challenges due to competing intermolecular forces.