title: The "autothixotropic" phenomenon of water and its role in proton transfer.
abstract: In an experimental study, significantly higher conductivity values than those of freshly prepared chemically analogous solutions were found in aged (~one year old) aqueous solutions, except for those stored frozen. The results surprisingly resemble a previously noticed phenomenon in liquid water, which develops when water is stored in closed vessels. This was observed as a disturbing phenomenon in gravimetric measurements and in luminescence spectroscopy measurements. The phenomenon was termed "autothixotropy of water" due to the weak gel-like behavior which develops spontaneously over time, in which ions seem to play an important role. Here, according to experimental results we propose that contact with hydrophilic surfaces also plays an important role. The role of the "autothixotropy of water" in proton transfer is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute Bion, Stegne 21, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; E-Mail:  igor.jerman@bion.si.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verdel
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jerman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bukovec
mesh_terms: D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D011522:Protons; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D011522:Protons; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water