The reason why the micropipette must be calibrated with oleic acid solution and not with water is that Oleic acid can spread out unlike water. Hence, the drop volume will be different skewing the volume.
Oleic acid does have the characteristic of spreading out across a monolayer with a measurable thickness. Water, on the contrary hand, contains a variety of drop sizes, which skews the volume and thus affects the calibration. Because of this, oleic acid is recommended.
Water repels the non-polar chain (it is hydrophobic), while water attracts the polar end (hydrophilic). A very dilute oleic acid solution in pentane shall be used. The pentane evaporates quickly, leaving behind a thin layer of plain oleic acid.
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