In chemistry, a detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants that has cleansing properties when in dilute solutions. Detergents are a group of compounds with an amphiphilic structure, where each molecule has a hydrophilic (polar) head and a long hydrophobic (non-polar) tail. The hydrophobic portion of these molecules may be straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbons, or it may have a steroid structure. The hydrophilic portion is more varied, they may be ionic or non-ionic, and can range from a simple or a relatively elaborate structure.
Detergents are commonly used for cleaning because of their dual hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. They work by binding to an oily stain and being washed away in water, making them ideal for cleaning. Detergents are commonly available as powders or concentrated solutions, and are used for laundry, dishwashing, and other cleaning purposes/21%3A_Household_Chemicals/21.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents).
In domestic contexts, the term detergent refers specifically to laundry detergent or dish detergent, as opposed to hand soap or other types of cleaning agents/21%3A_Household_Chemicals/21.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents). Laundry detergent, or washing powder, is a type of detergent used for cleaning laundry, and is manufactured in powder and liquid form/21%3A_Household_Chemicals/21.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents). While powdered and liquid detergents hold roughly equal share of the worldwide laundry detergent market in terms of value, powdered detergents are sold twice as much compared to liquids in terms of volume/21%3A_Household_Chemicals/21.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents).
Components of detergents include alkaline salts, optical brighteners, fabric softeners, and colorants/21%3A_Household_Chemicals/21.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents). A variety of perfumes are also components of modern detergents, provided that they are compatible with the other components and do not affect the color of the cleaned item/21%3A_Household_Chemicals/21.02%3A_Synthetic_Detergents).