This book emphasizes a broad spectrum of features in solution chemistry, reaching from recent developments in the empirical characterization of solvent-solute interactions up to modern theoretical descriptions of liquid-state systems, from solid-liquid interfaces to preferential solvation in mixed solvents. Accordingly, this collection presents the most important, though strongly different approaches to the understanding of the mutual influences between solute and solvent. Descriptions of actual and practically useful applications of these concepts are included.