Theory 21/Solvation & interfaces/Hofmeister series
The Series Is Ion Size Against Structure
The claim
The Hofmeister ordering of ions is set by the ratio of ion size to the water structure it perturbs, so small kosmotropes order water while large chaotropes disrupt it.
01Mechanism
Charge density determines how strongly the ion orients nearby water.
02Prediction
Ordering should track the size ratio.
03Refutation
Ordering tracking charge alone would remove size.