Monolayer properties of fatty acids : II. Surface vapor pressure and the free energy of compression

The properties of monolayers spread at the air-water interface were measured for saturated, unsaturated, and hydroxy fatty acids, differing in the type and degree of unsaturation, geometric isomerism, and position of unsaturated and hydroxy groups. Surface vapor pressures, reflecting the equilibrium between “gaseous” and “liquid” monolayer states were determined, as were the free energies of compression, ΔF_c, from essentially infinite dilution (100,000 Ų/molecule) to the area per molecule, A_e at the equilibrium spreading pressure, π_e. Surface vapor pressures and free energies of compression for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with a double bond, or bonds, change in a manner expected because of chain-chain interactions. Hydroxy and acetylenic acids produce relatively high surface vapor pressures, despite their tendency for strong chain-chain interaction. It is concluded that chain-water interactions are very significant for the acetylenic and hydroxy acids and less so for the saturated and ethylenic acids.