Abstract
The hydrophobic interaction between tetraphenylborate (TPB$^-$) or tetrakis (4-fluorophenyl)borate (TFB$^-$) and crystal violet has been investigated in aqueous solutions by absorption spectrophotometry. Both of the anions promote the aggregation of the ion pairs formed between crystal violet and TPB$^-$ or TFB$^-$. When crystal violet and borate anion are nearly equimolar, insoluble floating aggregates can be observed. Based on the relative absorbance of H and J bands and on the effect of TX-100, TFB$^-$ is found to be more hydrophobic than TPB$^-$.