Solute interactions in dilute aqueous solutions. Part 1.—Microcalorimetric study of the hydrophobic interaction

Abstract

Heats of dilution of ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, t-butanol and heats of mixing of the various pairs of alcohols in aqueous solution have been measured at 25°C and concentrations of ⩽ 2 mol kg^–1. The various enthalpic pair and triplet interaction coefficients h_ij and h_ijj have been evaluated from the experimental data and compared with values which can be extracted from other published calorimetric studies. All h_ij and h_ijj values are positive and show the dependence on alkyl chain length and conformation expected for a hydrophobic pair interaction. The results are discussed in terms of several models proposed for the hydrophobic interaction.