Transient cavities and the excess chemical potentials of hard-spheroid solutes in dipolar hard-sphere solvents

摘要

Monte Carlo computer simulations are used to study transient cavities and the solvation of hard-spheroid solutes in dipolar hard-sphere solvents.The probability distribution of spheroidal cavities in the solvent is shown to be well described by a Gaussian function,and the variations of fit parameters with cavity elongation and solvent properties are analyzed.The excess chemical potentials of hard-spheroid solutes with aspect ratios x in the range of 1/5 <=x<=5,and with volumes between 1 and 20 times that of a solvent molecule,are presented.It is shown that for a given molecular volume and solvent dipole moment (or temperature) a spherical solute has the lowest excess chemical potential and hence the highest solubility,while a prolate solute with aspect ratio x should be more soluble than an oblate solute with aspect ratio 1/x.For a given solute molecule,the excess chemical potential increases with increasing temperature;this same trend can be observed in hydrophobic solvation.A scaled-particle theory based on the solvent equation of state and a fitted solute-solvent interfacial tension shows excellent agreement with the simulation results over the whole range of solute elongations and volumes considered.An information-theoretic model based on the solvent density and radial distribution function is less successful,being accurate only for small solute volumes and low solvent densities.