Surfactants are chemicals that lower the surface tension between two liquids (or between liquids and solids, or liquids and gases). They are often used as cleaning agents. The word surfactant means surface active agent.
Surfactants have a structure composed of two ends. One end of the chemical is water-soluble (hydrophilic), the other one is water-avoiding (hydrophobic). The hydrophobic ends are drawn to the stains. The hydrophilic ends pull the stains off the surface and into the cleaning solution.
Anionic surfactants are surfactants that possess a negative electrical charge.
Anionic Surfactant molecules have a negative charge on the hydrophilic end. They negatively charge the substrates and dirt particles to make them repel each other. This gives these chemicals an exceptional cleaning power. Anionic surfactants also produce a high amount of foam when agitated.
Because of their properties, anionic surfactants are used as the main active components of soaps and chemical detergents. They are able to attack a wide range of substances. However, they are not very effective at removing oily stains.
Sulfates, sulfonates, phosphates and carboxylates are all examples of anionic surfactants. The category of carboxylates soaps includes sodium stearate, a white solid which is the most common form of soap.
Anionic surfactants are not exclusively used as cleaning agents. They have many applications in a wide range of industrial fields. Examples include:
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