Simulating Monovalent and Divalent Ions in Aqueous Solution Using a Drude Polarizable Force Field

An accurate representation of ion solvation in aqueous solution is critical for meaningful computer simulations of a broad range of physical and biological processes. Polarizable models based on classical Drude oscillators are introduced and parametrized for a large set of monoatomic ions including cations of the alkali metals (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+)) and alkaline earth elements (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+) and Ba(2+)) along with Zn(2+) and halide anions (F(-), Cl(-), Br(-) and I(-)). The models are parameterized, in conjunction with the polarizable SWM4-NDP water model [Lamoureux et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 418, 245 (2006)], to be consistent with a wide assortment of experimentally measured aqueous bulk thermodynamic properties and the energetics of small ion-water clusters. Structural and dynamic properties of the resulting ion models in aqueous solutions at infinite dilution are presented.