What is the easy to understand definition of surfactants?

Answer 1

In simple words surfactants are surface active agents.

Surfactants are used to enable substances to mix with water, they have a water hating and water loving structure, the water loving part interferes with water, and kind of acts like a bodyguard to protect the water hating part. So that, if water hating substances were to be added, the bodyguards--these being the water liking aspect of the surfactant--would allow the water hating aspects of the surfactant structure to interact with the water hating substances, so that all 3 entities- water, surfactant, water hating substance, could interact at peace in water. It's like a mediator.

Answer 2

It is short for surface active agent. They are large molecules that are partially nonpolar and partially polar. Polar interacts with water...as nonpolar interacts with grease or dirt.

Answer 3

Surfactants, or surface active agents, reduce the surface tension of a liquid. What this means is it breaks the boundary on the surface of a liquid. If a bug lands on pond, the water holds it up. Actually, the water doesn't hold it up, it's the surface tension of the water holds it up. If surfactants are added to the water, the surface tension is broken up, and the bug would sink.

Answer 4

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex and highly surface active material composed of lipids and proteins which is found in the fluid lining the alveolar surface of the lungs.

Surfactant prevents alveolar collapse at low lung volume, and preserves bronchiolar patency (keeps it open) during normal and forced respiration (biophysical functions).

In addition, it is involved in the protection of the lungs from injuries and infections caused by inhaled particles and micro-organisms.

Answer 5

Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension between two substances, such as oil and water, allowing them to mix more easily. They can be found in various products like soaps, detergents, and shampoos, where they help to break down grease and dirt.

Answer 6

surafecants are molecules that produce when you cough sneeze or laugh they are sometimes thing that produce out your butt

Answer 7

A surfactant is a compound that lowers the surface tension of a liquid. A surfactant may act as a detergent, wetting agent, foaming agent, dispersant or emulsifier.

Answer 8

A type of detergent

Answer 9

Thyroxine