A systematic investigation and characterization of interfacial hydrated n‐alkane films by total internal multiple reflection

We present the first systematic investigation by the technique of total internal optical reflection of a homologous series of low molecular weight alkanes adsorbed as hydrated films on a glass surface. The detected optical signals for these hydrated alkanes can be shown to depend empirically on the square of their molar refractivity times an optical depolarization scaling parameter. Relative scattering cross‐section measurements between a hydrated film of methane and a water film allowed for an estimate to be made of the number of water molecules which surround the methane molecule in the ‘‘cage‐like’’ hydrate structure.