Consider a surfactant molecule containing a hydrophobic group of 12 saturated carbon atoms synthesized with a...

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Consider a surfactant molecule containing a hydrophobic group of 12 saturated carbon atoms synthesized with a head group that is subject to decomposition at low pH. At high pH the molecule has an area per head group of 0.7 nm² (70 Ų) but at low pH the area drops to 0.45 nm² (45 Ų). Present a quantitative argument for the type of aggregates formed by this surfactant as a function of pH. Speculate how the viscosity of a solution of that surfactant would change with the change in pH. Consider a surfactant molecule containing a hydrophobic group of 12 saturated carbon atoms synthesized with a head group that is subject to decomposition at low pH. At high pH the molecule has an area per head group of 0.7 nm² (70 Ų) but at low pH the area drops to 0.45 nm² (45 Ų). Present a quantitative argument for the type of aggregates formed by this surfactant as a function of pH. Speculate how the viscosity of a solution of that surfactant would change with the change in pH.

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The change in the area per head group of the surfactant molecule as a function of pH provides insigh... View the full answer