Disperse dosage forms stabilized with nonionic surfactants frequently contain electrolytes as active ingredients or adjuvants. Salting out of the surfactants by these electrolytes may cause breakdown of the dosage forms. The cloud point of an aqueous solution of octoxynol 9 was used to measure the salt effects. Electrolytes which salt octoxynol 9 out lower its cloud point, while salting-in electrolytes raise it. The observed cloud point effects are discussed according to the mechanisms involved. Salting out by dehydration in competition with octoxynol 9 for the available water was observed with sulfate and phosphate anions, sodium, potassium, and ammonium tribasications, and the nonelectrolyte sorbitol. The extensive self-association of water by hydrogen bonds at and below room temperature weakens its solvent power. Ions which reduce this self-association, breaking the structure of water, increased the cloud point of octoxynol 9. Among them were the iodide, thiocyanate, and nitroprusside anions. Ions which tighten the structure of water and enhance its self-association salted the surfactant out, lowering its cloud point. Among these were the fluoride and hydroxide anions. Complex formation between the ether linkages of octoxynol 9 and the following cations increased its cloud point: hydrogen (from strong acids), silver, magnesium, and zinc. Including published data, the only cations which do not form complexes with polyoxyethylated surfactants (and are, therefore, unable to salt them in) were the alkali metal ions sodium, potassium, and cesium and the ammonium ion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)