Concept explainers
Interpretation:
The reason for the fact that soaps and detergents are called surfactants is to be explained.
Concept Introduction:
Surface tension is the tendency of a fluid surface due to which it obtains the least surface area. Surface tension refers to the tendency of a fluid surface which makes it acquire the least possible surface area. At liquid-air interfaces, surface tension results from the greater attraction of liquid molecules to each other (cohesion) than to the molecules in the air (adhesion).
A surfactant is used to decrease the surface tension in various phenomena. Because of surface tension, surfactants are called surface-active agents. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension) between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.
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