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This monograph presents the molecular theory and necessary tools for the study of solvent-induced interactions and forces. After introducing the reader to the basic definitions of solvent-induced interactions, the author provides a brief analysis of the statistical thermodynamics. The book thoroughly overviews the connection of those interactions with thermodynamics and consequently focuses on specifically discussing the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions and forces. The importance of the implementation of hydrophilic interactions and forces in various biochemical processes is thoroughly analyzed, while evidence based on theory, experiments, and simulated calculations supporting that hydrophilic interactions and forces are far more important than the corresponding hydrophobic effects in many biochemical processes such as protein folding, self-assembly of proteins, molecular recognitions, are described in detail. This title is of great interest to students and researchers working in the fields of chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
List of contents
Introduction, definitions and motivations for studying solvent-induced interactions.- A Brief Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics.- Solvent-induced interactions and forces, definitions and connections with thermodynamics.- Hydrophobic interactions and forces.- Hydrophilic Interactions and Forces.- Implementation of the H I interactions and forces in some biochemical processes.- Appendix A. The BN3D model of water and the corresponding pair potential.- Appendix B. Solvation thermodynamics of water in liquid water.
About the author
Arieh Ben-Naim is a professor emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Department of Physical Chemistry. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, in July 1934. Most of his research work was focused on the theory of water, aqueous solutions, and the role of water in biochemical processes. Recently the author dedicated his time to explaining and clarifying to the general public the most mysterious concept in physics: Entropy. He is the author of many books and articles on Entropy and the Second Law, the most popular of which is " Entropy Demystified," first published in 2006.
