The Science of Water as a Solvent
Understanding the physical and chemical properties of water is central to how Maritech’s technologies achieve their effects. The following section explains why water behaves the way it does — and how that behaviour can be influenced.
Water: A Polar Molecule
A water molecule (H₂O) consists of two hydrogen atoms carrying a slight positive charge, and one oxygen atom carrying a slight negative charge. This asymmetry makes water a polar molecule — one side slightly positive, the other slightly negative — which gives it exceptional properties as a solvent.
Because water can simultaneously attract positive and negative ions, it dissolves a wider range of substances than almost any other liquid.
Ion Hydration and Solvation Shells
When a salt such as NaCl dissolves in water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻). Water molecules immediately surround each ion, forming hydration shells:
- The negative oxygen end of water orients toward positive Na⁺
- The positive hydrogen end of water orients toward negative Cl⁻
These shells stabilise the ions in solution and prevent them from recombining. Research by Kropman and Bakker (using ultrashort laser pulses to excite hydrogen vibrations) demonstrated that water molecules bonded to heavy ions vibrate for longer than those in pure water — direct evidence of stable, tight hydration shells.
Bond Angle and Hydrogen Bonding
The H–O–H bond angle of approximately 109° gives the molecule its distinctive bent shape. This geometry allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with each other and to pack tightly around solute ions, creating ordered structures in solution.
Why This Matters for Water Treatment
The strength and structure of these solvation shells directly influences:
- The rate at which ions react with other dissolved species
- Scale and biofilm formation — both depend on ion mobility and surface adhesion
- The effectiveness of physical treatment — technologies that alter hydrogen bond strength or ion mobility can prevent scale, improve solubility, and disrupt biofilm precursors
- We can ‘loosen’ the bonds between the water molecules so that clusters with less attached molecules are formed, with beneficial properties for many application.
Water does not merely dissolve substances — it actively controls the speed of chemical reactions and, when properly treated, keeps surfaces clean.