Densities rho, refractive indices n(D) and speeds of sound u for binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol and 1-heptanol over the entire range of mole fraction were measured at T = (298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15) K and atmospheric pressure. Excess molar volumes V-E, isentropic pic kappa(s), excess isentropic compressibility kappa(E)(s), deviations in speed of sound u(D) and excess refractive indices n(D)(E) for the above systems were calculated from the experimental data. The excess molar volume, excess isentropic compressibility and deviations in speed of sound were further fitted to the method of least square of the Redlich-Kister (R-K) polynomial. The speeds of sound have been analysed in term of Schaaffs' collision factor theory (CFT), Jacobson's intermolecular free length theory of solutions (FLT), Nomoto relation (NM) and Van Deal ideal mixture relation (IMR). The Lorentz-Lorenz (L-L), Dale-Gladstone (D-G), Eykman (Eyk) and Arago-Biot (A-B) mixing rules were used to predict the refractive indices of the binary mixtures. The calculated excess molar properties have been qualitatively used to explain the intermolecular interaction between the mixed components as well as the effects of nalkan-1-ol chain length and the temperature on them. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.