Calorimetric power versus time curves together with simultaneous measurements of dissolved oxygen for metabolism of Chromobacterium violaceum at 25 degrees C are reported in order to study the effect of a homologous series of m-alkoxyphenols. The inhibitory action of the compounds followed the order m-penthoxyphenol > m-buthoxyphenol > m-propoxyphenol > m-ethoxyphenol > m-methoxyphenol. The hydrophobicity of these compounds is inversely proportional to respective rates of oxygen consumption or heat production. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.