The surface properties [effectiveness of surface tension reduction (γ CMC ), critical micelle concentration (CMC), efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC 20 ), maximum surface excess concentration (Γ max ), minimum area/molecule at the interface (A min ), and the CMC/C 20 ) ratio] of well-purified N-substituted glycine derivatives, having the structural formula RC(O)N(R′)CH 2 COONa, where RC(O) = lauroyl, myristoyl, or oleoyl, and R′ = Et, Pr, Bu, CH 2 CH 2 OH or CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , were investigated at 25°C in hard river water and distilled water. These surfactants show greater surface activity in hard river water than in distilled water. The effect of both the main alkyl chain R and the N-substituent R′ on surface properties was elucidated, the oleoyl group showing properties equivalent to that of a C 16 saturated acyl group. A linear relationship was observed between the pC 20 or CMC values and the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain R or in R′ when it was alkyl. With increase in the number of carbon atoms in either R or the N-substituent R′ when it is alkyl, both pC 20 and micelle-forming ability increase, although the effect of R′ on the foregoing two surface properties is lower than that of R. When R′ is (CH 2 ) 3 OCH 3 , however, the results suggest that R′ is only partly removed from contact with the aqueous phase either upon adsorption at the water/air interface or upon micellization. It increases A min , is equivalent only to an ethyl group in its effect on pC 20 and to a methyl group in its effect on CMC, and, in contrast to the effect of R′ when it is alkyl, produces no increase in the CMC/C 20 ratio. As a result, γ CMC increases with R when R′ is alkyl and decreases with R when R′ is (CH 2 ) 3 OCH 3 . JSD 1, 1-9 (1998).Among the anionic surfactants, N-acylated amino acidtype surfactants have unique properties, showing some advantages over other types of anionic surfactants, that is, high biodegradability in the environment, compatibility with cationic surfactants, more tolerance of water hardness than the similar carboxylate-type surfactants, and low irritation to skin. These unique properties have made them desirable in products as diverse as shampoos, toothpaste, hand cleaners, pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial agents, ore flotation agents, and corrosion inhibitors (1-4). Also, because amino acid surfactants are generally considered as models of naturally occurring biosurfactants such as proteins and lipids, the study of their surface properties is of great importance in understanding their roles in biological systems. In fact, there are at least two reports concerning this aspect: the surface molecular recognition of amino acid (5) and the formation of fibrous molecular assemblies by amino acid surfactants in an aqueous medium (6). However, there are only a few studies of the relationship between the surface properties, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC 20 ), and area per molecule of N-acylated amino acid surfactants, and their che...