Definition of surfactant

The word "surfactant" has a fascinating origin. It was coined in the early 20th century by the American chemist Joseph A. Schultz, who was studying the behavior of molecules at interfaces. "Surfactant" is a portmanteau of "surface active agent," which describes the key characteristic of these molecules: their ability to interact with and reduce the surface tension of a liquid. In biology, surfactants are molecules that can change the way substances interact with each other, often playing a crucial role in biological processes like fatty acid absorption, protein folding, and cell membrane structure. In the century since its creation, the term "surfactant" has become widely adopted in fields ranging from chemistry and biology to medicine and engineering, as scientists have learned more about the important role these molecules play in understanding and manipulating complex systems.