Is the hydrophobic effect unique to water? The relation between solvation properties and network structure in water and modified water models

The properties of water as a solvent are related to the structure of its li quid phase which in turn depends on the intermolecular potential. In order to explore this relationship we investigate the properties of liquids forme d by a number of modified water models. Changing the molecular geometry cha nges short-range molecular correlations and the network of hydrogen bonds. The solubility and anomalously low entropy of non-polar solutes is only sli ghtly reduced. Reducing the hydrogen-bond strength increases the solubility and removes the low entropy of solution of uncharged spheres. We conclude that the hydrophobic effect depends on the existence of hydrogen bonds and other strong intermolecular interactions but not on the presence of a three -dimensional network.