Polysorbate 80 is what type of surfactant?

Polysorbate 80 is what type of surfactant?

• A. Cationic
• B. Nonionic
• C. Anionic
• D. Zwitterionic

Answer: (B)

Surfactants are classified by the charge on their hydrophilic head group. Polysorbate 80 has no permanent charge—the polyoxyethylene chains and the sorbitan-based ester provide polarity without ionizable groups—so it behaves as a nonionic surfactant. This makes it less sensitive to changes in pH and electrolytes compared with ionic surfactants, which is why it’s widely used as a mild emulsifier and solubilizer in pharmaceutical and food applications. The other types (cationic, anionic, zwitterionic) carry positive, negative, or both charges, respectively, and polysorbate 80 does not have those charged groups, so it does not fit those categories.

Surfactants are classified by the charge on their hydrophilic head group. Polysorbate 80 has no permanent charge—the polyoxyethylene chains and the sorbitan-based ester provide polarity without ionizable groups—so it behaves as a nonionic surfactant. This makes it less sensitive to changes in pH and electrolytes compared with ionic surfactants, which is why it’s widely used as a mild emulsifier and solubilizer in pharmaceutical and food applications. The other types (cationic, anionic, zwitterionic) carry positive, negative, or both charges, respectively, and polysorbate 80 does not have those charged groups, so it does not fit those categories.