Compounds like sodium stearate, called “surfactants” in general, can form structures known as micelles in water, once the solution concentration reaches the value known as the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Micelles contain dozens to hundreds of molecules. The cmc depends on the substance, the solvent, and the temperature.

At and above the cmc, the properties of the solution vary drastically.

(a) The turbidity (the amount of light scattering) of solutions increases dramatically at the cmc. Suggest an explanation.

(b) The ionic conductivity of the solution dramatically changes at the cmc. Suggest an explanation.

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Surfactant, tail Surfactant head cmc Surfactant monomers Micelle