surfactants
Surface tension breakers
Surfactants are substances that reduce surface tension between liquids, or between a liquid and a solid.
The word blends "surface active agent." Soaps and detergents are surfactants—they let water penetrate fabrics and lift away grease.
Surfactants appear in cleaning products, cosmetics, and industrial processes: The shampoo contains mild surfactants that won't strip natural oils.
Chemical cleaning agent
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
- shampooLiquid hair cleanser
- degreaserOil-dissolving cleaner
- laundryItems needing cleaning
dishwashing · sanitizer · disinfectant · suds · foam · lather · stain remover · bleach
Tending to absorb water
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
- lipophilicAttracted to fatty substances
- micelleSurfactant molecular cluster
- colloidStable dispersed mixture
adsorption · wetting · interface · dispersion · solubilization · monolayer · bilayer · phospholipid
Liquid hair cleanser
- conditionerHair-smoothing product
- body washLiquid skin cleanser
- facial cleanserProduct for cleaning skin
- toothpasteOral cleaning gel
shaving cream · bubble bath · makeup remover · moisturizer · sunscreen · hair gel · skin care · cosmetics
Combines immiscible liquids
- emulsionBlended immiscible liquids
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
- lecithinNatural emulsifying compound
- homogenizationMaking things the same
mayonnaise · vinaigrette · dispersion · food additive · salad dressing · creamer · sauce · lotion
Substance that generates bubbles
- dispersantAgent breaking up concentrations
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
- oil recoveryObtaining crude from reservoirs
- textile processingConverting fibers to cloth
detergent
Chemical cleaning agent
laundry · dishwashing · sanitizer · disinfectant · suds · foam · lather · stain remover · bleach · fabric softener
hydrophilic
Tending to absorb water
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
- lipophilicAttracted to fatty substances
- micelleSurfactant molecular cluster
colloid · adsorption · wetting · interface · dispersion · solubilization · monolayer · bilayer · phospholipid · molecule
shampoo
Liquid hair cleanser
- conditionerHair-smoothing product
- body washLiquid skin cleanser
- facial cleanserProduct for cleaning skin
toothpaste · shaving cream · bubble bath · makeup remover · moisturizer · sunscreen · hair gel · skin care · cosmetics · sulfate-free
emulsifier
Combines immiscible liquids
- emulsionBlended immiscible liquids
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
- lecithinNatural emulsifying compound
homogenization · mayonnaise · vinaigrette · dispersion · food additive · salad dressing · creamer · sauce · lotion · milk
foaming agent
Substance that generates bubbles
- dispersantAgent breaking up concentrations
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
- oil recoveryObtaining crude from reservoirs
textile processing · coating · printing · agrochemical · paper manufacturing
- chemicalschemicals, compounds, acids, reagents, solutions
- Contaminantspollutants, pollutant, heavy metals, toxin, pesticides
- farm suppliesanimal feed, fertilizer, seeds, cattle feed, insecticides
- soap bubblesbubbles, soap bubbles, bubble wands, iridescence, spheres
- cleaning sciencedetergents, disinfectants, sanitizers, solvents, enzymes
- food additivesemulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, colorants, calcium silicate, lecithin
- surfactant therapyLung-lining substance administration