The solvation structure of magnesium, zinc(II), and alkaline earth metal ions in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), and their mixtures has been studied by means of Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The solvation number is revealed to be 6, 7, 8, and 8 for Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , and Ba 2+ , respectively, in both DMF and DMA. The d (O-C-N) vibration of DMF shifts to a higher wavenumber upon binding to the metal ions and the shift 1n .= n bound − n free / becomes larger, when the ionic radius of the metal ion becomes smaller. The n (N-CH 3 ) vibration of DMA also shifts to a higher wavenumber upon binding to the metal ions. However, the shift 1n saturates for small ions, as well as the transition-metal (II) ions, implying that steric congestion among solvent molecules takes place in the coordination sphere. It is also indicated that, despite the magnesium ion having practically the same ionic radius as the zinc(II) ion of six-coordination, their solvation numbers in DMA are significantly different. DFT calculations for these metalsolvate clusters of varying solvation numbers revealed that not only solvent-solvent interaction through space but also the bonding nature of the metal ion plays an essential role in the steric congestion. The individual solvation number and the Raman shift 1n in DMF-DMA mixtures indicate that steric congestion is significant for the magnesium ion, but not appreciable for calcium, strontium, and barium ions, despite the solvation number of these metal ions being large.the calcium ion varies from 6 to 10 depending on its concentration. 9,11,14,20 -29 The hydration structure has also been studied by theoretical calculations. [30][31][32][33] have studied hydrated clusters of magnesium and alkaline earth metal ions in the gas phase using an electrospray ionization (ESI) technique combined with high-pressure mass spectroscopy and revealed that the hydration enthalpies of these metal ions are in excellent agreement with those theoretically obtained. 35 The zero-pressure-limit dissociation rate for the loss of a single water molecule from the hydrated clusters of the magnesium and the alkaline earth metal ions has also been studied in the gas phase. 36