A term used to describe a compound containing a large organic
cation or
anion which possesses a long unbranched hydrocarbon chain, e.g.
CH3(CH2)nCO2−M+
CH3(CH2)nN+(CH3)3X−
(n > 7 )
CH3(CH2)nSO3−M+.
The existence of distinct polar (
hydrophilic) and nonpolar (hydrophobic) regions in the molecule promotes the formation of
micelles in dilute aqueous solution.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1083
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
