In this communication, we present an interesting reversal in the enthalpic behavior from endothermic to exothermic on increasing the carbon chain length attached to the imidazolium ring in the imidazolium-based ionic liquids. A systematic investigation is presented on the excess partial molar enthalpy, H(IL)(E) directly measured using isothermal titration calorimeter at 298.15 K for the interactions operating between cation and anion of four imidazolium ionic liquids with aqueous and various non-aqueous solvents. This reversal behavior is analyzed in terms of hydrophobic and solvation effects. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.