An explanation for the charge on water's surface, by A. Gray-Weale and J. K. Beattie, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009, 11, 10994. Comment

Abstract

Gray-Weale and Beattie's rationalization of the neg. charge obsd. on the surface of water in terms of accumulation of OH- is based on the supposedly uniquely large dielec. decrement of hydroxide solns. [A. Gray-Weale and J. K. Beattie, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009, 11, 10994]. We challenge this rationalization and point to another ion, namely fluoride, which has a comparable dielec. decrement and size and which is repelled from the surface of water.