Excess molar enthalpies and heat capacities of binary mixtures containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + seven normal alkanols, namely methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol, hexan-1-ol, octan-1-ol, and decan-1-ol, have been determined at 303.15 K and atmospheric pressure. With the exception of the DMSO-methanol system, which shows negative values, all mixtures show positive values of excess molar enthalpies over the whole range of mole fraction, increasing as the number of carbon atoms increases. Heat capacities of pure components have been determined in the range 288.15 < T(K) < 325.15. Molar heat capacities of the mixtures are always positive and decrease as the number of carbon atoms decreases. The results were fitted to the Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. Molecular interactions in the mixtures are interpreted on the basis of the results obtained. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.