detergent (redirected from detergency)

detergent /de·ter·gent/ (de-ter´jent)

1. purifying, cleansing.

2. an agent that purifies or cleanses.

3. in biochemistry, any of a class of agents, characterized by a hydrophilic polar head group attached to a nonpolar hydrocarbon chain, which reduce the surface tension of water, emulsify, and aid in the solubilization of soil.

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de·ter·gent (d-tûrjnt)

n.

A cleansing substance that acts similarly to soap but is made from chemical compounds rather than fats and lye.

adj.

Having cleansing power.

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detergent

[ditur′jənt]

Etymology: L, detergere, to cleanse

1 a cleansing agent.

2 (in respiratory therapy) a wetting agent that is administered to mediate the removal of respiratory tract secretions from airway walls. See also surfactant.

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detergent [de-ter´jent]

1. purifying or cleansing.

2. an agent that purifies or cleanses.

3. in biochemistry, any of a class of agents structurally consisting of a nonpolar hydrocarbon chain and a hydrophilic polar head group, which reduce the surface tension of water, emulsify, and aid in solubilization of soil.

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detergent (dētur´jnt),

n a cleanser. Also applied in a more specific sense to chemicals that possess surface-active properties in water and whose solutions are therefore able to wet surfaces that are normally water repellent, thereby assisting in the mechanical dispersion and emulsification of fatty or oily material and other substances that soil the surface.

detergent, anionic,

n a detergent in which the cleansing action resides in the anion. Soaps and many synthetic detergents are anionic.

detergent, cationic,

n a detergent in which the cleansing action resides in the cation. Many are strong germicides (e.g., those that contain quaternary ammonium compounds).

detergent, nonionic,

n a cleanser that acts by depressing the surface tension of water but does not ionize.

detergent, synthetic,

n a cleanser, other than soap, that exerts its effect by lowering the surface tension of an aqueous cleansing mixture.

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detergent

1. purifying, cleansing.

2. an agent that purifies or cleanses.

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anionic detergent

a substance which when dissolved contributes a hydrophobic ion which carries a negative charge to the solution. Soap is an example.

cationic detergent

the dissociated substance produces a positively charged hydrophobic ion. The quarternary ammonium compounds are the best known examples. They are innocuous if properly diluted but the concentrates are very poisonous.

nonionic surface-acting detergent

e.g. the polyoxyethylenes are regarded as nonpoisonous.