INTERMOLECULAR INTERACTION IN TETRAMETHYLUREA SOLUTIONS

Despite the fact that tetramethylurea (TMU) molecule is nonionic and contains four hydrophobic methyl groups, its entire concentration range is miscible with water. Two interactions exist between the TMU molecules namely, a direct dipole-dipole and dispersion interaction between the solute and hydrophobic interaction. Adding to these are two water molecules which can form direct hydrogen bonds with the carbonyl group of TMU. The present work aims to study these interactions in detail around the concentration of 0.7 aquamolality by carrying out a series of concentration dependent SANS measurements.