Question

What is a common nonionic hydrophilic head group?

Answer 1

Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or between a liquid and a solid.

Surfactants are usually organic compounds that are amphiphilic, meaning they contain both hydrophobic groups (their tails) and hydrophilic groups ( their heads).

Surfactants are classified according to polar head group. A non-ionic surfactant has no charged groups in its head.

Non-ionic surfactant have covalently bonded oxygen-containing hydrophilic groups, which are bonded to hydrophobic parent structures.

Non-ionic surfactant are less sensitive to water hardness than anionic surfactant, and they foam less strongly.