On the evolution of the concept of solvation thermodynamics

The quantities, now referred to as Solvation Thermodynamics, have evolved from their predecessors, the standard thermodynamics of solution. While the former are defined for a molecular process of solvation, the latter were based on a macroscopic thermodynamic process. It is shown that the solvation Gibbs energy, ΔG*_s, is the only genuine measure of the average free energy of interaction of a single (solute) molecule with its surroundings. Some of the other advantages of ΔG*_s and its derived quantities are also discussed.