[Rocky143]

I m writing a discussion of the ingredients of cleansers like shampoo, body wash, hand soap, etc for consumers who have no knowledge of chemistry or science for that matter.

When I encounter a surfactant as an ingredient, I have been calling it "detergent" because people know what a detergent is and I prefer not to explain what a surfactant is.

Is it wrong to call surfactants detergents? My sources on these surfactants often say that their purpose is "cleansing."

Thanks for your comments.

[Intanjir]

My impression is that a detergent is just a surfactant with a particular purpose in mind. Of course the very same surfactant could be used as a foaming agent as well, even in the same product.

However I wouldn't call a sodium or potassium fatty acid a detergent but only because they are just familiar soap and referring to them as a generic detergent might confuse.

Many dictionary definitions seem to emphasize that detergents are not soaps. I suppose in the popular conception detergent suggests something that is 'stronger' and possibly 'harsher'. I am skeptical of this. The most natural thing to me is just that soap is a subcategory of traditional detergents.

Anyways, I think that 'cleanser' might be the superior word to use.

[AWK]

Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension (ie pure compound).
A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants (and other additives) with cleaning properties in dilute solutions (usually sold as concentrated solutions or powders).