Solute-Induced Perturbation of the Solvent Microstructure in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions: Some Uses and Misuses of Structure Making/Breaking Criteria

In this article, we raise awareness about the misuses of frequently invoked criteria for structure making/breaking phenomena, resulting from absence any explicit cause–effect relationship between proposed markers and microstructural perturbation solvent induced by solute. First, support our assessment with rigorous molecular-based foundations to determine, directly quantitatively, solute-induced leading an unambiguous definition a event. Then, highlight discuss sources concealed ambiguities in two most criteria, i.e., Hepler’s thermal expansivity-based Jones–Dole’s B coefficient-based markers. Finally, illustrate how implementation arguments, conjunction available experimental evidence on variety aqueous species at infinite dilution, rule out validity these as suggest their discontinuation avoid perpetuation myths.