Effects of Aerosol-OT reversed micelles in carbon tetrachloride on acid-base indicator equilibria

ApparentpK _a values of thymol blue solubilized in Aerosol-OT reversed micelles in carbon tetrachloride at 25 °C were determined spectrophotometrically. The effects of the Aerosol-OT concentration and the (water)/(surfactant)R ratio were investigated. The apparentpK _a values increase as a function of increasing (R). All the measuredpK _a values are less than that in water. The decrease ranges from 1.23 units (detergent=0.4 M,R=1.39) to 0.42 units (Aerosol-OT=0.6 M,R=9,25). These results are rationalized in terms of decreased hydronium ion activity in the micellar core due to its binding to the detergent SO₃ ^? groups.