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Surfactant vs Detergent - What's the difference?

surfactant | detergent |

Detergent is a related term of surfactant.



As nouns the difference between surfactant and detergent

is that surfactant is a surface active agent, or wetting agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid; typically organic compounds having a hydrophilic "head" and a hydrophobic "tail" while detergent is any non-soap cleaning agent, especially a synthetic surfactant.

As an adjective detergent is

having the power to clean.

surfactant

English

(wikipedia surfactant)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (chemistry) A surface active agent, or wetting agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid; typically organic compounds having a hydrophilic "head" and a hydrophobic "tail".
  • (biochemistry) A lipoprotein in the tissues of the lung that reduces surface tension and permits more efficient gas transport.

    • detergent

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia detergent) (en noun)
  • Any non-soap cleaning agent, especially a synthetic surfactant.

    • Related terms

    * surfactant

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the power to clean.