detergent

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

The diagrams show how detergent removes oil droplets often contained in dirt. When the detergent dissolves in water, detergent molecules group themselves around an oil droplet (a). The water-repelling part of the molecules (light area) projects into the droplet, while the water-soluble part (dark area) remains in the water (b). The oil is held in suspension by the emulsifying action of the detergent and is carried away with the dirty water (c).

steps in the manufacture of synthetic detergents

detergent: References & Edit History

More Articles On This Topic

soap and detergent

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Invalidated site: United States Environmental Protection Agency - Soap and Detergents.	Gloria Lotha	Oct 12, 2026
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Pubmed Central - Allergies come clean: The role of detergents in epithelial barrier dysfunction.	Grace Young	Aug 08, 2025
	Add new Web site: RSC Education - How does washing detergent work?	Grace Young	Mar 07, 2025
	Add new Web site: CiteSeerX - Soaps, Shampoos, and Detergents.	Aakanksha Gaur	Jan 26, 2025
	Add new Web site: IOPscience - IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science - Detergent Disposal into Our Environmentand Its Impact on Marine Microbes (PDF).	Gloria Lotha	Dec 27, 2024
	Add new Web site: New Zealand Institute of Chemistry - Soap and Detergent Manufacture.	Gloria Lotha	Nov 15, 2024
	Add new Web site: United States Environmental Protection Agency - Soap and Detergents.	Yamini Chauhan	Oct 04, 2024
	Add new Web site: American Cleaning Institute - Soaps & Detergents History.	Gloria Lotha	Nov 10, 2023
	Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Soaps and Detergents.	Aakanksha Gaur	Feb 27, 2023
	Add new Web site: Academia - Soap and Detergent Manufacture.	Gloria Lotha	Oct 03, 2022
	Add new Web site: The Spruce - Laundry Detergent Ingredients and How They Work.	Aakanksha Gaur	Mar 21, 2021
	Add new Web site: Soap History - Detergent History and Facts.	Gloria Lotha	Dec 18, 2019
	Add new Web site: The Chemistry of Things - The Chemistry of Detergents.	Gloria Lotha	Aug 24, 2015
	Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Detergent.	Vivek Abhinav	May 02, 2013
	Add new Web site: Kiwi Web - Detergent.	Vivek Abhinav	May 02, 2013
	"Surface-active agent" changed to "surfactant."	Erik Gregersen	Dec 06, 2010
	Article revised and updated.	Adam Augustyn	Mar 26, 2008
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jul 20, 1998