The surface tension of aqueous solutions of 2-alkyl- 1,3-dioxolanes (alkyl: CH 3 … n-C 6H 13) as well as their adsorption at the aqueous solution-mercury interface have been measured over a wide range of concentrations. The investigated alkyldioxolanes fit the Traube rule. From the log c vs hydrocarbon chain length plots (for a constant surface tension of aqueous solutions equal to 55 mN m −1) it is evident that the studied alkyldioxolanes have a higher surface activity than aliphatic alcohols, alkyl monoethers of ethylene glycol, and 1,2-diols with the same hydrocarbon chain length. The effective length of the hydrocarbon chain in alkyldioxolanes is shorter by 1.5, 1.0, and 3.0-CH 2-groups as compared with that in aliphatic alcohols, alkyl monoethers of ethylene glycol, and 1,2-diols, respectively. The surface activity of studied compounds at the aqueous solution—mercury interface is higher by 2.5-CH 2-groups as compared with corresponding aliphatic alcohols. The change of standard free energy of adsorption per methylene group in hydrocarbon chain for the water-air interface, −ΔG° CH 2 , as determined by Temkin's isotherm equation is 2.4 kJ mole −1 this value is lower than that for aliphatic alcohols. At the aqueous solution-mercury interface the −ΔG° CH 2 value calculated from both Temkin's and Frumkin's equations is equal to 3.5 kJ mole −1 and corresponds to the value for aliphatic alcohols determined by other authors. From the values of surface area per molecule at the water-air interface calculated using the simple form of Gibbs' equation one may conclude that the 1,3-dioxolane ring is oriented parallel to this interface.