solvatud

Solvatud is the Estonian adjective meaning solvated, used in chemistry to describe a chemical species that is surrounded by solvent molecules as a result of solvation. Solvation is the stabilizing interaction between solute particles and solvent molecules, which leads to the formation of a solvation shell around the solute. The most common example is hydration, where ions are surrounded by water molecules; for example, Na+ and Cl– in aqueous solution are present as hydrated ions, written as Na+(aq) and Cl−(aq).

Solvation is driven by electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding, and dispersion forces and affects properties such as solubility, reactivity, and spectroscopic behavior. The primary solvation shell consists of the solvent molecules directly coordinating to the solute, while additional solvent layers contribute to the bulk solvent effect. In computational chemistry, models of solvatud species include explicit solvent approaches, where solvent molecules are represented individually, and implicit solvent (continuum) models that treat the solvent as a dielectric medium.

Solvatud states are central to many areas: electrochemistry, catalysis, biochemistry, and pharmacology, where the solvent environment can alter reaction mechanisms, transition states, and binding affinities. The term can also describe complexes where a solute binds solvent molecules reversibly, forming a transient solvated complex.

Other related terms include solvated ion, hydration shell, and solvation energy, which quantifies the free-energy change accompanying solvation. The concept underpins solubility limits and the behavior of electrolytes in solution. See also solvation, hydration, solvated ion, solvation energy, and solubility.