The equilibria and kinetics of the complex formation and dissociation reaction between gallium(III) and PAR [4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol] have been investigated in water and in the presence of SDS micelles. The reactive form of Ga(III) is GaOH2+ in both cases. The addition of SDS results in an increase of both the binding affinity and velocity, the maximum accelerating effect being observed just above the cmc value of SDS that, under the conditions of the experiments, is 5.6 x 10(-3) M. At pH = 3.2, the maximum value of the equilibrium constant ratio Kapp(SDS)/K-app(H2O) is 27.4, whereas that of the binding rate constants k(f)(SDS)/k(f)(H2O) is 16. The results are interpreted in terms of increased concentrations of the reactants on the micelle surface and on competition of PAR and SDS for GaOH2+.