Resumen de Micelles in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory:: Diffusion Coefficients and Half-Wave Potentials of Ferrocene
Kathryn R. Williams, Roberto Bravo
In a new experiment for the physical chemistry laboratory, cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry are used to measure the diffusion coefficients and half-wave potentials for ferrocene (Fc) in three micellar media (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and sodium dodecylsulfate) and a simple supporting electrolyte (tetrabutylammonium bromide). The experiment presents an excellent opportunity for students to appreciate the use of surfactants as solubilizing media and to observe the effects of micelle size and charge on both the diffusion coefficient of the ferrocene molecule and the E1/2 of the Fc+/Fc couple.
