EXPERIMENT NO: 6 DATE:

CMC by Conductometry

AIM: Determination of critical micelle concentration of a surfactant using

conductometry.

EQUIPMENTS/INSTRUMENTS/MATERIALS:
 Conductometer,
 Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS)
 Standard measuring flask (SMF)
 Pipette
 Burette
 0.1 M KCl

THEORY:
The electrical conductivity is a magnitude that describes the ability of a material or solution to
conduct an electric current. The electrical conductivity of a solution depends on the number and
mobility of ions and charged particles present in the solution. In the case of ionic surfactants, the
electrical conductivity increases as the surfactant concentration increases. The formation of
micelles affect the conductivity of the solution. The c.m.c. can be obtained from the inflection
point (intersection of linear fits) in the curve conductivity versus surfactant concentration.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), also called sodium lauryl sulfate, is an anionic surfactant
commonly used in many cleaning and hygiene products.

PROCEDURE:
1. Wash and dry all apparatus.
 2. Determine the cell constant using 0.1 M KCI solution.
3. Prepare dilute solution of different concentration (1 to 12 mM) from given
stock solution (20 mM).
4. Measure the conductance of all solution at room temperature.

OBSERVATIONS:
 Room temperature = ________________.
 Conductance of water at room temperature = _____________ S.
Specific conductance of 0.1 M KCl at room temperature
Cell Constant = _______________________________________________________
Observed conductance of 0.1 M KCl

OBSERVATION TABLE:
No. Concentration of Observed Correct conduction = Specific conductance
SDS (mM) conduction, S Observed conduction – (k) = Correct
conductance of water conductance x Cell
constant (S*cm-1)
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9
10 10
11 11
12 12

Results:
1. The CMC of surfactant solution = __________ mM.

Graph: Specific conductance vs. Concentration (mM)

Marks Obtained

Date of Submission

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