Micelles

In aqueous solution, molecules having both polar or

charged groups and non polar regions (amphiphilic
molecules) form aggregates called micelles.
The length of the non polar tail, the nature and size of the polar or
ionic head, the acidity of the solution, the temperature, and the
presence of added salts are the most important factors
determining the kind of the obtained aggregate.
Micelle aggregates form only when the concentration of the Schematic
amphiphilic molecule reaches a given concentration called critical representation of a
micelle concentration (cmc). micelle in aqueous
Amphiphilic solution
molecules
can form micelles not only in water,
but also in non polar organic
solvents. In such cases, micelle
aggregates are called inverse
micelles because the situation is
inverted as respect to water. In fact,
hydrocarbon tails are exposed to
the solvent, while the polar heads
point toward the interior of the
A reverse micelle. Polar heads point toward the aggregate to escape the contacts
interior, while the non polar tails are exposed to with the solvent.
the non polar solvent. The arrow indicates water Reverse micelles are able to hold
"sequestered" in the interior. relatively large amounts of water in
their interior. In that way, a
"pocket" is formed which is particularly suited for the dissolution and transportation of
polar solutes through a non polar solvent.
Left: the concentration of the amphiphilic molecule is less
than cmc
Center: The concentration is just the cmc: micellization
begins
Right: The number of micelles increases, but the
concentration of free molecules does not change