Density, rho, ultrasonic speed, u, and viscosity, eta of binary mixtures of toluene with acetone (AC), ethyl methyl ketone (EMK), and acetophenone (AP), including those of pure liquids are measured over the entire composition range at temperatures (298.15, 303.15, and 308.15) K respectively. From these experimental results, deviations in isentropic compressibility, Delta k(s) and ultrasonic speed, Delta u, excess intermolecular free length, L-f(E), excess Gibbs free energy of activation, Delta G*(E), partial molar volumes ((V) over bar (m.1)degrees, (V) over bar (m,2)degrees, (V) over bar (phi.1)degrees, (V) over bar (phi.2)degrees) partial molar compressibilities and ((K) over bar (m,1)degrees, (K) over bar (m,2)degrees, (K) over bar (phi,1)degrees, (K) over bar (phi,2)degrees) and their excess values ((V) over bar (m,1)degrees(E), (V) over bar (m,2)degrees(E), (V) over bar (phi,1)degrees(E), (V) over bar (phi,2)degrees(E), (K) over bar (m,1)degrees(E), (K) over bar (m,2)degrees(E), (K) over bar (phi,1)degrees(E), (K) over bar (phi,2)degrees(E)) of the components at infinite dilution are calculated. The values of Delta k(s) and L-f(E) are found to be negative, and those of Delta u and Delta G*(E) are found to be positive, indicating the presence of specific interactions between toluene and ketone molecules and the interactions follow the order: AC > EMK > AP. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.