Question

What is a cationic surfactant?

Answer 1

1. Surfactants are compounds that lowers the surface tension between two liquids or between a gas and a liquid or between liquid and solid.
2. It can be detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, or dispersants.
3. Surfactants are of cationic, anionic, non-ionic, and amphoteric types.
4. Cationic Surfactants have a positive charge on their hydrophilic end.
5. The positive charge makes them useful in anti-static products, for example, fabric softeners.
6. Cationic surfactants are also used as anti-microbial agents therefore, they also act as disinfectants.
7. Cationic surfactant cannot be added or mixed with anionic surfactant because if positive charge cation is mixed with negative charge anion they all will fall out and no longer be effective. Therefore, we can say that cationic surfactant and nonionic surfactant are compatible.
8. As they have a positive charge water-loving head, this positive charge makes them deliver nourishing benefits to skin, hair, and body but only when used alone.
9. Examples of surfactants: C8-10 alkyl hydroxyethyl dimethylammonium chloride or C8-10 alkylamidodimethyl propylamine, etc.