Questions tagged [surfactants]
Questions about compounds that lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension) between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid.
33 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Thermodynamics of micellisation
Micellisation is found to be spontaneous i.e. $\Delta G < 0.$ It's found that $\Delta S > 0,$ which was intuitive since, solvated molecules are released. And, it may be most loosely started that ...
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What is the highest known temperature where micelles exist?
What are the two liquid phases involved in the formation of roughly spherical micelles at highest possible temperatures? What about a surfactant? At how high temperatures have micelles been observed ...
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How do lyophilic colloids reduce surface tension?
It's given in my textbook that the surface tension of lyophilic/hydrophilic solutions is lower than water.
But my intuition says, since in lyophilic solutions the interaction between a lyophilic ...
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How can I solubilize fragrance oil into polyvinyl acetate/clear glue?
I'm a high school student who makes slime for fun, using polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue and borax as my main ingredients.
Earlier, I had the idea of adding fragrance oils to clear glue. However, because ...
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Why are critical micelle concentrations so large?
Dissolving a non-polar molecule in water incurs a free energy cost of about $10 kJ/(mol \cdot nm^2)$ (source: http://bionumbers.hms.harvard.edu/bionumber.aspx?&id=101826)
The entropy gained from ...
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Stability of n-Dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside in buffer solutions for assay experiments
I have a buffer system which contains multiple salts and in addition DTT and n-Dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside.
I understand that DTT is hydrolysing quite fast and this component must be used always fresh ...
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Is lauryl glucoside stable in low pH?
I wish to use lauryl glucoside in the solution of citric acid. I tried to add it to 5% w/w solution of citric acid in water but after about 24h in the concoction which was previously clear I observed ...
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How can I decrease the Krafft temperature of an hexadecyl sulfate surfactant?
I need to prepare an anionic surfactant from a treatment of cetyl alcohol (hexadecanol) and $\ce{H2SO4}$, and then neutralize it using $\ce{NaOH}$ or $\ce{NH3}$; but sodium hexadecyl sulfate has a ...
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What would be a safe/good surfactant for ultrasonic cleaning vinyl records + distilled water and isopropyl alcohol
Title pretty much says it all besides the type of records I believe are pvc (60s - current, someone correct me if there may be other materials but I absolutely don't have any shellac records) and I ...
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Difference between starch surfactant and CTAB, SDS, Tx-100
I am doing a research on the effect of surfactant on ZnO nanoparticles properties. There is a confusion here between starch surfactant and CTAB, Tx-100 and SDS. I need point on what is the difference ...
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What can I use instead of AOT in the following protocol?
We want to nanoencapsulate our pesticide using the following protocol; but we don’t have AOT surfactant. So, what can I use instead of AOT in the following protocol?
Sodium alginate solution in ...
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Why does the reaction of chlorosulfonic acid (colorless) and 1-dodecanol (colorless) produces a deep dark-red-colored solution?
I was wondering if anyone had any insight as to why the reaction of chlorosulfonic acid (colorless) and 1-dodecanol (colorless) produces a deep dark-red-colored solution? The reaction should give ...
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Can we replace surface stabilizers of CuS nanoparticles with a solid matrix?
Is there a method to simultaneously remove surface stabilizer molecules from $\ce{CuS}$ (copper monosulfide) nanoparticles and form inclusions of the nanoparticles into a solid crystal growing from a ...
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Improving paraffin wax adhesion to steel - surfactants and adhesion modifiers
Context
I use paraffin wax as a lubricant for my bicycle chain. It is a personal / DIY project. Essentially, wax is melted in a slow cooker and a bicycle chain is immersed in the melted wax.
There are ...
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Can micelles form in a polar-vacuum interface?
As the formation of micelles depends on, among many factors, the difference of polarity/relative permittivity of the solvents involved with the surfactant, I'm wondering if a polar-vacuum system is ...
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Is there a stretchable, transparent polymer like PDMS, but not so hydrophobic?
I'm looking for something like PDMS, but not as hydrophobic. I'm trying to form 2d crystals using the surface tension of an evaporating droplet to organize microspheres into an ordered array. PDMS ...
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Is an emulsion of dish soap and vegetable oil stable?
If I fill a glass jar with water, vegetable oil, and dish soap, then mix it until the oil is completely emulsified, will the mixture stay emulsified indefinitely?
Assuming the dish soap and oil are ...
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How does soap actually reduce surface tension of water
I was a bit confused on how soap reduce surface tension of water.I've read some answers like Why does soap reduce surface tension of water and Why do surfactants lower the surface tension
But the ...
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Why is aqueous solution of lauyl glucoside alkaline?
What is the reaction of dissociation of lauryl glucoside? It's aqueous solution pH is much higher than 7, it's definately alkaline. Why is that? It's nonionic surfactant and as far as I know it only ...
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Do some alkyloxiranes possess surfactant properties?
As an example, i notice that decyloxirane has a long non-polar "tail" and a tiny "head" that features two polar bonds. This molecule looks not so different from a common soap to me....
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What is the logic behind the terminology lyophilic and lyophobic colloids?
Its given in my text book that-
Colloidal dispersions of starch,rubber,proteins etc are lyophilic colloids whereas colloidal dispersions of metals,sulphides etc are lyophobic in nature.
But even ...
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Making a soapy (bubble) solution
There are fun and practical applications of soapy solutions for bubble making. An example of a practical one is detection of gas leaks from fittings and unions.
Given various household products, ...
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failed simple experiment with surfactant
I wanted to show my son the effect of a surfactant. So I filled two small glasses with tap-water, added a squirt of RinseAid to one and stirred. Then I sprinkled powdered flour on both. My ...
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Functionalizing CTAC stabilized nanoparticles
I am working on functionalizing silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles. My nanoparticles are stabilized by CTAC(cetyltrimethylammonium chloride).The most articles which I found, are about the ...
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What is the surfactant's role in the non-coalescence of water droplets?
I have recently seen many videos that talk about the noncoalescence of water droplets; however, I do not understand the purpose of adding surfactants into the water. From my knowledge (high school), ...
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Benzalkonium chloride breakdown time
I wonder if and how long (approximately) it will take for benzalkonium chloride (shown above; $n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18$) to breakdown (degrade fully or partly) in a closed water loop with continuous ...
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Understanding observations of dissolving surfactants in methanol, water and hexane combinations
I added various solvents to a shower gel product to see what would happen. The main surfactant ingredients in it are Methyl Gluceth 20, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, and Lauryl Glucoside.
First I diluted ...
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ordering the hydrophilicity of some polymers
I need to compare the hydrophilicity of those materials to compare contact angles of water with those materials' surfaces for surface tension measurement. Materials are:
PTFE (Teflon), PVC, PS, PVDF, ...
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Microorganism preventative solution safe for using on a roof and will last in the sun
Information is scarce in the roof cleaning industry and the big guys are making a killing selling chemicals that are harmful to the person using it and everything around the home. I would like to find ...
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Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) Safety and Toxicity
I was wondering if anyone had any experience with PFBS or PFOS (perflurooctane sulfonic acid)?
I am thinking about trying to purchase some of these fluorosurfactants in bulk in order to (hopefully) ...
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In surfactant modification of zeolites, ECEC and CMC are of primary interest. How do you determine which concentrations to employ?
I've read literature in which the rationale behind their monolayer and bilayer surfactant modification for zeolites was solely based on the external cation exchange capacity (100% and 200% ECEC for ...
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Cheap way to mix satured fat (beef tallow) with water?
I want to mix beef tallow (satured fat) in water. I want to prepare food or edible product.
I know I must use a emulsifier, but I seen in this video, I can do it by a vacuum chamber.
That means I have ...
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How can I choose the right solvent to remove pigment from cotton
I’m trying to figure out how I might be able to dissolve a pigment without destroying the substrate(cotton, very thin). I don’t know the exact pigment, so it’s a guessing game. It is violet, I suspect ...
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