Triton X-100

PHYSICS · Subjective · Fermi University Physics · Condensed Matter, Materials & Soft Matter · Soft condensed matter · Soft condensed matter

Condensed Matter Physics, Ch Soft matter: when entropy, not bonding, sets the structure

Problem

Triton X-100, a common laboratory surfactant, has a measured critical micelle concentration of

0.24\,\mathrm{mM}

in water at

298\,\mathrm{K}

(take water itself as

55.5\,\mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}

). Estimate the free energy

\Delta_{\rm mic}

gained by a molecule on joining a micelle, in electronvolts and in units of

k_BT

, and compare it with a

3.6\,\mathrm{eV}

carbon-carbon bond.