KOSMOTROPIC Meaning and
Definition
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Kosmotropic is an adjective used to describe the preference of certain substances to interact with water molecules in a way that stabilizes the structure of the water, resulting in increased solubility. It is derived from the Greek word "kosmos," meaning order, and "tropos," meaning direction or tendency. The concept of kosmotropism is most commonly used in the field of chemistry to discuss the behavior of solutes in aqueous solutions.
Kosmotropic substances have a strong affinity for water and are known to increase the ordering of water molecules around them. They tend to induce the formation of well-defined hydration shells and are often characterized by strong interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, with the water solvent. Examples of kosmotropic substances include salts, such as sodium chloride, and certain organic compounds with hydrophilic functional groups.
The kosmotropic effect is important in various chemical and biological processes, as it influences the solubility, stability, and reactivity of substances dissolved in water. Understanding the kosmotropic behavior of solutes is critical for drug formulation, protein folding, and the understanding of many other fundamental processes in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology.
In summary, kosmotropic refers to the ability of substances to promote water structure and enhance solubility by creating well-organized hydration shells. It denotes the preference of certain substances to interact favorably with water, thereby stabilizing the overall system.
Common Misspellings for KOSMOTROPIC
- josmotropic
- mosmotropic
- losmotropic
- oosmotropic
- iosmotropic
- kismotropic
- kksmotropic
- klsmotropic
- kpsmotropic
- k0smotropic
- k9smotropic
- koamotropic
- kozmotropic
- koxmotropic
- kodmotropic
- koemotropic
- kowmotropic
- kosnotropic
- koskotropic
- kosjotropic
Etymology of KOSMOTROPIC
The word kosmotropic derives from the Greek roots kosmos meaning world or order and tropos meaning turn or direction. When combined, kosmotropic can be interpreted as directed towards the world or oriented towards the order of the world.
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