Effect of Salts and Organic Osmolytes is Due to Conservative Forces

Background: The impression given in the literature was that the net interaction potential energy, V is the difference between Coulombic-Coulombic and total weaker interaction energies. It is proposed however, that in aqueous solution all particles with full formal charges and partial charge (dipoles) contribute to the total interaction as applicable to conservative field but not to the exclusion of hydrophobic interaction if applicable.

Objectives: The objectives are 1) To theoretically elucidate the basis of the intermolecular interaction, 2) To show that effectiveness of an osmolyte which may include inorganic ion to force macromolecular, (un)folding, the m-value, is a function of the implicit mobility (or translational velocity) of the cosolute, 3) To link the m-value to conservative forces (or potential energies, V) and 4) Quantitate the values of V.

Methods: A major theoretical investigation and experimentation using Bernfeld method.

Results and Discussion: There were higher velocities of amylolysis with salt than without it in the presence of ethanol. The magnitude of the calculated V and energy equivalent of the entropic term were higher with higher concentration of ethanol unlike was the case with graphically determined values which were generally higher in magnitude than calculated values. The values of the calculated V and intermolecular distance were respectively higher in magnitude and longer with higher concentration of the salt.

Conclusion: The attractive interaction between a macromolecule and a cationic counter ion is due to long ranged ion-ion interaction which ultimately enhances the effect of short ranged interaction. Higher salt concentration promotes long ranged interaction. The translational velocity of the solvent and cosolute has a role in the quantification of intermolecular distance. A mathematical relationship exists between m-value and - V (or 2 K.E.). The values of V can be calculated based on the derived equations.