The critical micelle concentration (CMC) at which micelles start to form from a surfactant solution is usually measured in terms of conventional concentration units. However, the thermodynamic potentials are expressed in terms of mole fraction XCMC and XCMC cannot be directly measured experimentally. The Gibbs free energy, δG*mic, in particular is related to XCMC through δG*mic = RTlnXCMC. When it comes to CMC, the molar CMC, CCMC, differs only by the proportionality C-1w with Cw being the molarity of water. Hence, CCMC is found to be a proper representation of CMC. However, in calculation of δG*mic and other thermodynamic potentials from the CMC, XCMC or CCMC/Cw should be used.

• 김홍운 | Kim, Hong-Un
• 임경희 | Lim, kyung-Hee