Abstract

1. 1. Transport of alkali ions in model membranes mediated by ionophores is associated with at least two basic problems: (a) a conceivable physical model for the metal-ligand bonding in the primary hydration shell and (b) migration of ions from the primary hydration shell to ionophores to form ion complexes. 2. 2. The nature of metal-ligand bonding both in the primary hydration shell and in the ionophores has been found to be around 80% ionic and 20% covalent in both cases by independent investigation. Clearly the energetics being equivalent in both systems, ions will not migrate from the former to the latter. 3. 3. A novel model is proposed in terms of hydrogen bonding in the primary hydration shell for Li + and Na + so that the migration of these ions to ionophores is easily envisaged. Hyrogen bonding contributes 18% and 5% of the energy to the total hydration shell energy of Li + and Na +, respectively.

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