Glossary
What is Surfactant?
A surface-active agent whose molecules have a water-loving head and a water-repelling tail, allowing it to lower surface tension and form micelles. Surfactants are classed as anionic (such as SDS), cationic, non-ionic (such as polysorbates and Triton-type detergents) or amphoteric. They are used as detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents and in protein and cell biology.