CoachA surfactant (surface-active agent) is an amphiphilic molecule that adsorbs at interfaces and lowers their tension. It is an anionic surfactant if its head is an anion (sodium dodecyl sulfate, soaps), a cationic surfactant if a cation (quaternary ammonium salts), a non-ionic surfactant if the head is a neutral polar group (a chain of ethylene oxide units).
Chemistry · Glossary
What is Surfactant?
Also known as: anionic surfactant · cationic surfactant · non-ionic surfactant