Specific cation effects at aqueous solution−vapor interfaces: Surfactant-like behavior of Li + revealed by experiments and simulations

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Significance Ion adsorption to the interfaces of aqueous salt solutions plays a key role in a wide variety of chemical and biochemical processes. For example, the adsorption of ions to the surface of aqueous aerosol particles in the atmosphere influences their reactivity to gas-phase oxidants. While the so-called chaotropic anions (e.g., I − , SCN − , and ClO 4 − ) are known to have strong adsorption propensities, inorganic cations are generally regarded as being repelled from aqueous solution−air interfaces. Here we report a concerted experimental and computational study that reveals that Li + adsorbs to the interfaces of aqueous lithium halide solutions and, hence, is an exceptional cation.