Biomolecular condensation is a key mechanism for organizing cellular processes in a spatiotemporal manner. The phase-transition nature of this process defines a density transition of the whole solution system. However, the physicochemical features and the electrochemical functions brought about by condensate formation are largely unexplored. We here illustrate the fundamental principles of how the formation of condensates generates distinct electrochemical features in the dilute phase, the dense phase and the interfacial region. We discuss the principles by which these distinct chemical and electrochemical environments can modulate biomolecular functions through the effects brought about by water, ions and electric fields. We delineate the potential impacts on cellular behaviors due to the modulation of chemical and electrochemical environments through condensate formation. This Perspective is intended to serve as a general road map to conceptualize condensates as electrochemically active entities and to assess their functions from a physical chemistry aspect.

生物分子缩合是以时空方式组织细胞过程的关键机制。这个过程的相变性质定义了整个溶液系统的密度转变。然而，凝聚态形成带来的物理化学特征和电化学功能在很大程度上尚未得到探索。我们在这里说明了凝聚态的形成如何在稀相、密相和界面区域产生不同的电化学特征的基本原理。我们讨论了这些不同的化学和电化学环境通过水、离子和电场带来的影响来调节生物分子功能的原理。我们描述了由于冷凝水形成对化学和电化学环境的调节而对细胞行为的潜在影响。本视角旨在作为将凝聚态概念化为电化学活性实体并从物理化学方面评估其功能的一般路线图。