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GATE 2019 CY – Question 17

Physical Chemistry · Surfaces and Interfaces: Physisorption and chemisorption. Langmuir, Freundlich and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherms. Surface catalysis: Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. Surface tension, viscosity, Self- assembly/ physical chemistry of colloids, micelles and macromolecules. · 1 mark · Multiple choice

Micelle formation is accompanied by

  1. Decreased overall entropy due to ordering.
  2. Increased overall entropy, mainly from increased solvent entropy.
  3. Increased overall entropy, mainly from increased solute entropy.
  4. Increased overall entropy and decreased enthalpy.

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (B) Increased overall entropy, mainly from increased solvent entropy.

Explanation

Aggregation orders the surfactant molecules, but it releases water that was constrained around their hydrophobic tails. The solvent entropy gain can dominate the solute ordering penalty and drive micellization. Thus B is the intended general explanation; a particular sign of enthalpy is not universally required.

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