INTRODUCTION SOLUTE-SOLVENT INTERACTIONS Solutions Intermolecular Forces Solvation Preferential Solvation Micellar Solvation (Solubilization) Ionization and Dissociation CLASSIFICATION OF SOLVENTS Classification of Solvents According to Chemical Constitution Classification of Solvents Using Physical Constants Classification of Solvents in Terms of Acid-Base Behaviour Classification of Solvents in Terms of Specific Solute/Solvent Interactions Classification of Solvents Using Multivariate Statistical Methods SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE POSITION OF HOMOGENEOUS CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIA General Remarks Solvent Effects on Acid/Base Equilibria Solvent Effects on Tautomeric Equilibria Solvent Effects on other Equilibria SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE RATES OF HOMOGENEOUS CHEMICAL REACTIONS General Remarks Gas-Phase Reactivities Qualitative Theory of Solvent Effects on Reaction Rates Quantitative Theories of Solvent Effects on Reaction Rates Specific Solvation Effects on Reaction Rates SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE ABSORPTION SPECTRA OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS General Remarks Solvent Effects on UV/Vis Spectra Solvent Effects on Infrared Spectra Solvent Effects on Electron Spin Resonance Spectra Solvent Effects on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectra EMPIRICAL PARAMETERS OF SOLVENT POLARITY Linear Gibbs Energy Relationships Empirical Parameters of Solvent Polarity from Equilibrium Measurements Empirical Parameters of Solvent Polarity from Kinetic Measurements Empirical Parameters of Solvent Polarity from Spectroscopic Measurements Empirical Parameters of Solvent Polarity from Other Measurements Interrelation and Application of Solvent Polarity Parameters Multiparameter Approaches SOLVENTS AND GREEN CHEMISTRY Green Chemistry Reduction of Solvent Use Green Solvent Selection Non-Traditional Solvents Outlook APPENDIX: PROPERTIES, PURIFICATION, AND USE OF ORGANIC SOLVENTS Physical Properties Purification of Organic Solvents Spectroscopic Solvents Solvents as Reaction Media Solvents for Recrystallization Solvents for Extraction and Partitioning (Distribution) Solvents for Adsorption Chromatography Solvents for Acid/Base Titrations in Non-Aqueous Media Solvents for Electrochemistry Toxicity of Organic Solvents