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Surfactant Definition - Chemistry Glossary Definition of Surfactant

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com

Definition: Surfactant is the word that combines the terms "surface active agent". Chemical species that acts as wetting agents to lower the surface tension of a liquid and allow for increased spreadability. This can be at a liquid-liquid interface or a liquid-gas interface.
Also Known As: tenside
Examples:
coating on the surface of the alveoli in the lungs

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