What is the primary function of a surfactant?

The primary function of a surfactant is to reduce surface tension. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension between two substances, such as between a liquid and a solid or between two liquids. They work by disrupting the cohesive forces between liquid molecules, allowing them to spread more easily.

In practical applications, surfactants are crucial in a variety of industries, including cleaning, pharmaceuticals, and food production, as they enhance the mixing and penetration of liquids. For instance, in cleaning products, surfactants help water to wet and spread over surfaces more effectively, improving the cleaning process.

Understanding the role of surfactants is particularly important in asbestos work because proper management of airborne asbestos fibers can involve using surfactants in binding products to prevent fibers from becoming airborne during handling and removal processes. This demonstrates how critical surface tension reduction is in maintaining safety standards in hazardous material handling.