Micelle formation in molten acetamide

Abstract The electrical conductivity of four surfactants, sodium caprylate, sodium laurate sodium palmitate and sodium stearate in molten acetamide has been determined at 90°C. Conductivity measurements show that micelles are formed in acetamide solution. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) has been determined for each of the surfactants. It is suggested that the simplest formula of the ionic micelle is (S − ) n (CH 3 CONH 2 ) x . At higher concentration the micelle may be of the forms (NaS) m (S − ) n (CH 3 CONH 2 ) x where NaS denotes sodium sterate.