Water-air interfaces characteristic of oceans, lakes and globally distributed atmospheric aerosols provide unique environments for organic chemistry. At such aqueous surfaces, concentration and alignment of organic species determine the surface composition and morphology. The phase transitions between surface-active organic species, which form films and/or undergo hydrophobic collapse to generate inclusions or lenses, will be illustrated with experiments using Langmuir troughs. Chemical reactions not favorable in the bulk may be possible at surfaces. Factors influencing the atmospheric processing of organic molecules at the water-air interface are discussed with specific examples relevant to the atmosphere of contemporary Earth.

Water-air environmental interfaces: Morphological and chemical properties

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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