The latter is considered as the main contribution to the negative G m value, and
so has led to the controversial idea that micellisation is an entropy-driven process. High
positive values of Sm are indeed surprising since aggregation, in terms of configurational
entropy, should result in a negative contribution (i.e. formation of ordered aggregates from
free surfactant monomers). In addition, large values of Hm would have been expected since
hydrocarbon groups have very little solubility in water, and consequently a high enthalpy of
solution.