Surfactants

Surfactants are an important class of compounds. As described in the textbook, surfactants are most commonly used in soap and detergent. They are also used in many other situations where hydrophobic and hydrophilic ingredients must be combined, but they are often called emulsifiers in these cases. Examples can be found in many foods and personal care products.

Examine a product of your choice (other than a soap or detergent) that contains a surfactant/emulsifier. Include the name of the surfactant/emulsifier, a brief description of the molecular features that make it a surfactant, and two of the other product ingredients that it is helping to stabilize.