Apparent molar volume (phi(v)), molar refraction (R), viscosity B-coefficient and adiabatic compressibility (phi(k)) of some bio-active solutes such as glycine, L-alanine, and L-valine have been measured in 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 mol dm(-3) aqueous barium nitrate solutions at 298.15K. Masson equation was employed for the limiting apparent molar volumes (phi(0)(v)), experimental slopes (S-V(*)) to interprete the solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions respectively. Molar refractions (R) have been calculated using the Lorentz-Lorenz equation. Jones-Dole equation was used to derive parameters A and B to interprete the interactions. Limiting apparent molar adiabatic compressibilities (phi(0)(K)) at infinite dilution were examined from the sound speed values. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.