The microsolvation of the suberate dianion, -O2C(CH2)6CO2-, with two 
separate charge centers was studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and molecular 
dynamics simulation one solvent molecule at a time for up to 20 waters.  It is shown 
that the two negative charges are solvated in the linear suberate alternately.  As the 
solvent number increases, the negative charges are screened and a conformation 
change occurs at 16 waters, where the cooperative hydrogen-bonding of water is large 
enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion and pull the two negative charges closer 
through a water bridge.  This conformation change, revealed both from the 
experiment and simulation, is a manifestation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic 
forces at the molecular level.