Abstract
An approach to estimate the uncertainty of the calculated through the monomer cycle cluster-continuum model Gibbs free energy of transfer has been developed and suggested to be used as a quantitative measure of the reliability of the predictions. A set of experimental Na+ free energies of transfer from water to 18 solvents (Delta Gtr(Na+, W -> S)) has been assessed. For all solvents, we find Na+(S)n clusters to be thermodynamically unstable if n > 5. For 1,2dichloroethane (1,2-DCIE), we have resolved considerable (ca. 10 kcal mol-1) discrepancies between available experimental Delta Gtr(Na+, W -> S). For 1,1-DCIE, we reject the only available experimental value and recommend our own estimate instead. We strongly propose experimental revisiting of Delta Gtr(Na+, W -> S) for ethylene glycol and hexamethylphosphoramide. The statistical analysis performed on a set of predicted and recommended experimental Delta Gtr(Na+, W -> S) values, in this work, results in the mean unsigned and signed deviations of 3.4 and -1.3 kcal mol-1, respectively. The squared Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.91 encourages the extension of the utilized theoretical approach to other available experimental data on ion solvation.