Skip to content
Choose the Best Answer · Q10

Q.Which one of the following is not a surfactant?

(a) CH3(CH2)15N+(CH3)2CH2Br−\text{CH}_3(\text{CH}_2)_{15}\overset{+}{\text{N}}(\text{CH}_3)_2\text{CH}_2\text{Br}^-
(b) CH3(CH2)15NH2\text{CH}_3(\text{CH}_2)_{15}\text{NH}_2
(c) CH3(CH2)16CH2OSO2−Na+\text{CH}_3(\text{CH}_2)_{16}\text{CH}_2\text{OSO}_2^-\text{Na}^+
(d) OHC(CH2)14CH2COO−Na+\text{OHC(CH}_2)_{14}\text{CH}_2\text{COO}^-\text{Na}^+
Puducherry TnboardTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
28% · 19/68 Questions
🔒 Locked · start free trial →

You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

Step 1. A surfactant needs a long hydrophobic (hydrocarbon) tail attached to a genuinely ionic (or strongly polar, permanently charged) hydrophilic head, so that it can orient at an interface and lower interfacial tension.

Step 2. Option (a) is a quaternary ammonium salt — the nitrogen carries a permanent positive charge regardless of pH — a classic cationic surfactant. Option (c) is a sodium alkyl sulfate — the −OSO2−Na+-\text{OSO}_2^-\text{Na}^+ head is permanently ionic — a classic anionic surfactant (structurally like sodium lauryl sulfate). Option (d) is a sodium carboxylate salt of a long-chain acid — the −COO−Na+-\text{COO}^-\text{Na}^+ head is permanently ionic — a classic soap-type anionic surfactant. …

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.