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