Water structure making/breaking studies in solutions of five alkali halide salts (KF, KI, NaI, CsF and CsCl) in 4 wt% D(2)O in H(2)O mixtures have been performed by FTIR analysis of the OD stretching band in the full solubility range. The proposed method gives a microscopic picture of the water structure making/breaking character of the salts in terms of the hydrogen bonding between the water molecules in the solution. With the exception of CsCl, there is a very good correlation of the structure making/breaking character of the salts determined by FTIR analysis, and the viscosity coefficients of the solutions. The results fully support and explain previous studies of bubble attachment to microscopic salt particles of the above salts. The investigations support the primary importance of interfacial water structure in the explanation of the flotation of alkali halide salts in their brines.