Co-solvents (in water solvent) are defined as kosmotropic (order-making) if they contribute to the stability and structure of water-water interactions.
In contrast, chaotropic (disorder-making) agents have the opposite effect, disrupting water structure, increasing the solubility of nonpolar solvent particles, and destabilizing solute aggregates.
[3] A scale can be established if one refers to the Hofmeister series or looks up the free energy of hydrogen bonding (
[4] Recent simulation studies have shown that the variation in solvation energy between the ions and the surrounding water molecules underlies the mechanism of the Hofmeister series.
[7][citation needed] Nonionic kosmotropes have no net charge but are very soluble and become very hydrated.