Question

What is Nonionic Surfactant?

Answer 1

1. Surfactants are defined as those compounds that are used for cleaning purposes.
2. Surfactants work as they concentrate on the surface of the interface to form films, that will reduce the surface tension and will remove dust and dirt.
3. Nonionic surfactants are those surfactants that do not have any ions.
4. They are the esters of high molecular mass and are generally neutral in nature.
5. In nonionic surfactants, the water solubility is also relatively low.
6. It is to be noted that most of the nonionic surfactants have an alcohol group attached at the end which means they are soluble in water, due to the formation of the Hydrogen bond.
7. Nonionic surfactants have special characteristics of cloud points.
8. The cloud point is defined as the temperature at which the Nonionic surfactants start separating from the cleaning solution.
9. Examples of Non-ionic surfactants are Polyethylene glycol stearate ${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\left({\mathrm{CH}}_2\right)}_{16}\mathrm{COO}\left({\mathrm{CH}}_2{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{O}\right){\mathrm{nCH}}_2{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}$, Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate${\mathrm{CH}}_3\left({\mathrm{CH}}_2\right){\mathrm{CH}}_2{\left({\mathrm{OCH}}_2{\mathrm{CH}}_2\right)}_8\mathrm{OH}$.