during the inhibition phase. Consequently, equimolar acid concentrations should lead to the same inhibition times. However, we experimentally find that the dissolution inhibition power at identical proton amounts follows the sequence: SO 2- 4 > Cl -> NO - 3 > ClO - 4 . This anion-specific trend corresponds to the Hofmeister series. We hypothesize that the observed difference might result from a kosmotropic effect (influence on the stabilization of calcium ion solvation) or anionspecific adsorption on the particle surface. Yet, the available data does neither allow a precise assessment of the relative importance of both mechanisms nor the elucidation of the relationship between the anion-specific effect and the formation of Al(OH) 3 .