Surfactants such as SLS are used as detergents, an effective cleanser. The CMC of SLS is roughly 8.1 mol m -3 at 25☌. The long hydrocarbon chains with then form the interior of the spherical micelle. It will contain 20-50 molecules, the sulfate heads will face outwards forming the face of the sphere pointing towards the water. An SLS micelle is spherical and will have a diameter of roughly twice the length of SLS.
![electrostatic surface jmol electrostatic surface jmol](http://old.protein.bio.unipd.it/bluues/out.ddg.ph_charge.jpeg)
At this point, surface tension becomes independent of concentration. The concentration at which micelles start to form is the critical micelle concentration, CMC. Ībove a critical concentration SLS will form micelles in water. Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing for easier spreading of a droplet on the surface, thus lowering interfacial tension between two liquids. The head group must be sufficiently soluble in water to be classed as a surfactant. It is an anionic surfactant as defined by the sulfate head group, since it has a negative charge. This means the sulfate head group (shown by the pink shading in the diagram below) is hydrophilic and water soluble, while the 12-carbon-long chain is hydrophobic and water insoluble. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant, which means a molecule that has ampiphilic properties. It has a high pH as it is an alkali substance and has the appearance of a white powder. It's inexpensive and an excellent foaming agent.
![electrostatic surface jmol electrostatic surface jmol](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/6us1ldzrnmsupifvrhsl-signature-e98a80fce5f206ad5f0abe9ffec415794bba59639fa5ddc9326eb1c51972e131-poli-151024010306-lva1-app6891/95/ib-chemistry-on-ict-3d-software-avogadro-anguslab-swiss-pdb-viewer-for-internal-assessment-on-electrostatic-potential-and-dissociation-constant-3-638.jpg)
In industry it will be found in engine degreasers or carpet cleaners, for example.
![electrostatic surface jmol electrostatic surface jmol](https://image2.slideserve.com/5119308/slide5-l.jpg)
It is the main component of most soap-based products, and if you were to look in your bathroom you're guaranteed to find at least one product containing it, for example, your shampoo or toothpaste. This product is then neutralised with sodium carbonate to give sodium lauryl sulfate. It is formed by combining sulfonic acid and dodecanol in a process known as esterification. Sodium lauryl sulfate has the chemical formula C 12H 25SO 4Na, and has many other names such as sodium monolauryl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium monolauryl sulfate, sodium dodecane sulfate, lauryl alcohol, hydrogen sulfate - sodium salt, n-lauryl sulfate sodium and finally sulfuric acid monolauryl ester sodium salt! It is a widely used ingredient in household and industrial items. Sodium lauryl sulfate The main cleaning agent in soap and detergent.Īlso available: HTML, VRML and Chime versions. Sodium lauryl sulfate - MOTM March 2010 - JMol version