title: Effect of ionization and cation selectivity on the expansion of stearic acid monolayers.
abstract: Force-area isotherms of stearic acid and stearic acid-stearyl alcohol mixtures were investigated on alkaline subphases that contained Tris, Na(+), or K(+) cations and that varied in pH and ionic strength. The monolayer behaved as though ionization was effectively complete in the expanded region of the force-area isotherm. Surface pressure in this region was independent of pH and varied inversely with ionic strength as predicted by the Davies equation. The monolayer behaved as a partially ionized film in the plateau region of the force-area isotherm. Surface pressure in this region varied directly with pH and ionic strength as predicted by a modified Davies equation for partially ionized monolayers. The neutral molecule, stearyl alcohol, exerted a large condensing effect on the ionized film at pH 12.8, and this condensing effect also supported the concept that a partially ionized stearic acid film existed in the plateau region of the force-area isotherm. A greater binding affinity for Na(+) than for K(+) showed that the stearate anion surface behaved as a strong field at pH 10 and above, and a greater binding affinity for K(+) than for Na(+) showed that the stearate anion surface behaved as a weak field at pH 9. The weak field explained in part the anomalous binding affinity of the large Tris cation for the stearate monolayer at pH 9.
mesh_terms: D002021:Buffers; D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium; D012964:Sodium; D013229:Stearic Acids; D013499:Surface Properties; D014325:Tromethamine
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014325:Tromethamine; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium