Smartphone-Assisted Contact Angle Measurements: A Simple Approach to Determine the Critical Micelle Concentration of Surfactants

We present a simple smartphone-based protocol for the estimation of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. The protocol is based on contact angle measurements from the smartphone-captured images of differently concentrated surfactant solution droplets mounted over a naturally exist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2024-03, Vol.101 (3), p.1198-1203
Main Authors: Khan, Mudeha Shafat, Wani, Adil Amin, Jan, Qounsar, Bhat, Murtaza Manzoor, Kuchey, Mohammad Yaseen, Sheikh, Ummar Ramzan, Sofi, Feroz Ahmad, Bhat, Mohsin Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Computer mediated communication
Contact angle
Estimating techniques
Hydrophobic surfaces
Hydrophobicity
Micelles
Surfactants
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Summary:We present a simple smartphone-based protocol for the estimation of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. The protocol is based on contact angle measurements from the smartphone-captured images of differently concentrated surfactant solution droplets mounted over a naturally existing or chemically synthesized superhydrophobic surface. A scatter plot of contact angle vs surfactant concentration is constructed for the determination of CMC. The described laboratory experiment, besides providing a simple, reliable, safe, cost-effective, and reproducible method for the estimation of CMC, will provide students with a fresh perspective on many fundamental and practical aspects of superhydrophobic surfaces, solid/liquid interfaces, and the self-aggregation of amphiphilic molecules.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00953