We report the aggregation behavior for the complexes of first row transition elements namely iron, cobalt, and zinc. Metal surfactant complexes of the type [M(CH3COO)(4)](2-)[C12H25NH3+](2) have been synthesized, keeping the hydrophobic dodecyl chain same. The change in the thermal and redox behavior upon metal complexation with conventional surfactants has been analyzed. The influence of different metal ions on the physicochemical and solution properties of metal surfactant complexes has been explored by using techniques such as conductivity, surface tension, ultrasonic velocity, and cyclic voltammetry. The different metal surfactant complexes synthesized show different properties, which can be attributed solely to the change of metal (namely, cobalt, iron, and zinc) only. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.