Surfactants, also known as wetting agents, lower the
surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading. Surfactants active in
water are usually
organic substances such as
alcohols and
soaps that contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components to their molecules, and are thus semi-soluble in both organic and aqueous solvents.
Surfactants are active ingredients in detergents, emulsifiers, paints, adhesives, inks, and so on.