Solvation dynamic effects, approximate description

The second approach to the approximate description of the dynamic solvation effects is based on the semiempirical account for the time-dependent electrical polarization of the medium in the field of the solute molecule. In this case, the statistical averaging over the solute-solvent intennolecular distances and configurations is presumed before the solution of the SchrOdinger equation for the solute and correspondingly, the solvent is described as a polarizable dielectric continuum. The respective electrostatic solvation energy of a solute molecule is given by the following equation[13]... 

It should be emphasized that this description of solvation as a purely electrostatic process is greatly over-simplified. Short-range interactions exist as well, and the physical exclusion of the solvent from the space occupied by the solute must have its own dynamics. Still, for solvation of ions and dipolar molecules in polar solvents electrostatic solvent-solute and solvent-solvent interactions dominate, and disregarding short-range effects turns out to be a reasonable approximation. Of main concern should be the use of continuum electrostatics to describe a local molecular process and the fact that the tool chosen is a linear response theory. We will come to these points later. 

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