Hofmeister series

The Hofmeister series is a way to rank ions (charged particles) based on how they influence the properties of water and other solutions. It describes how different ions either promote or hinder the formation of structures like protein folding or salt precipitation. Some ions, called "kosmotropes," stabilize water structure and help proteins stay folded, while "chaotropes" do the opposite. This series helps scientists understand processes like protein stability, mineral formation, and solution behavior by showing how specific ions affect the interactions within water-based systems.