Chemistry: surfactants, part 1

Self-tutoring about everyday chemistry: the tutor begins about surfactants.

I mention in my post from april 6, 2023, that a bathroom cleaning product contained a surfactant. What is a surfactant, and what is its purpose?

A surfactant is a molecule that has a water-attracted side and also a water-repelled side. Soap is an example: in that case, its surfactant tendency gives its cleaning power. (See my post from October 12, 2014, about how soap works.)

Surfactants are used for numerous applications besides cleaning. I intend to mention some of them in future posts.

Source:

chem.libretexts.org