Term: amphiphilic
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00303

Definition:
A term used to describe a compound containing a large organic cation or anion which possesses a long unbranched hydrocarbon chain, e.g. CH3(CH2)nCO2−M+CH3(CH2)nN+(CH3)3X− (n > 7)CH3(CH2)nSO3−M+.The existence of distinct polar (hydrophilic) and nonpolar (hydrophobic) regions in the molecule promotes the formation of micelles in dilute aqueous solution.

Related Terms:
1) amphipathic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00302).
2) cation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00907).
3) anion (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00358).
4) hydrophilic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02906).

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1083 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)

Citation: 'amphiphilic' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00303

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