Raman studies of the solution structure of univalent electrolytes in water

This paper reports results of analysis of the OH stretch Raman spectra of aqueous solutions of electrolytes. Error analysis supports the view that the environment of the electrolyte in the liquid is that of a liquid crystalline hydrate. Fitting error analysis for a two-state model further suggests that the presence of the hydrated electrolyte perturbs the structure of the bulk water in the solution. This, perturbation is consistent with the results of previous studies of the apparent density of water in aqueous solutions of electrolytes. The previous studies showed that electrolytes increase the hydrogen bond strength of the bulk water and thereby cause a shift in the water equilibrium, which results in a change of the apparent density of water in the solution.