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Halil I Okur1, Chad I Drexler, Eric Tyrode1,2

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The controversial Jones-Ray effect, a minimum in surface tension for electrolyte solutions, is not caused by impurities. Rigorous cleaning procedures confirmed this phenomenon in pure aqueous salt solutions.

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Area of Science:

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Surface Science
  • Solution Chemistry

Background:

  • The Jones-Ray effect describes a minimum in surface tension of aqueous electrolyte solutions at low concentrations (around 2 ± 1 mM).
  • This phenomenon, first reported in the 1930s, has been debated, with many attributing it to surface-active impurities.
  • Previous studies often dismissed the effect due to potential contamination, hindering its acceptance and understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically investigate the role of surface-active impurities in the Jones-Ray effect.
  • To determine if the surface tension minimum persists in highly purified electrolyte solutions.
  • To provide definitive evidence regarding the origin of the Jones-Ray effect.

Main Methods:

  • Addition of trace amounts (nanomolar concentrations) of surfactants to dilute electrolyte solutions.
  • Purification of solutions using repeated aspiration and stirring cycles to remove surfactants.
  • Measurement of surface tension of purified and unpurified solutions at varying electrolyte concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Trace surfactants were found to decrease surface tension and alter surface chemistry.
  • Purification cycles successfully removed surfactants, creating a pristine surface.
  • The surface tension minimum (Jones-Ray effect) was still observed in millimolar concentrations of salt even after rigorous purification.

Conclusions:

  • The Jones-Ray effect is a genuine phenomenon in pure aqueous electrolyte solutions.
  • Surface-active impurities are not the cause of the observed minimum in surface tension.
  • This study validates the existence of the Jones-Ray effect, resolving a long-standing scientific controversy.