Hydration of an azobenzene derivate
Solute-solvent interactions play an important role in chemistry. The course of a chemical reaction may be altered completely, by changing the solvent. The most abundant solvent on our planet is water. Therefore, it is of the utmost significance to understand the interactions between water and the molecules it solvates.
In this project we investigate the interaction of water molecules with the azobenzene derivate 5-(4-Nitrophenylazo)salicylic acid (NPAS). Its variety of functional groups offers several possibilities for water attachment. With controlled dosing of water molecules, it is possible to investigate the development of hydration shell formation from the attachment of a single water molecule to a large number of water molecules. This project will give microscopic insight into the processes during chemical reactions in the fluid phase.