surface-active agent

[ sur-fis-ak-tiv ]

/ ˈsɜr fɪsˌæk tɪv /

noun Chemistry.

any substance that when dissolved in water or an aqueous solution reduces its surface tension or the interfacial tension between it and another liquid.

Nearby words

surface road, surface structure, surface tension, surface wave, surface-active, surface-active agent, surface-printing, surface-ripened, surface-tension theory of narcosis, surface-to-air, surface-to-surface

Also called surfactant.