dictionary help| detersive --> detergent | medical dictionary |
<chemistry> An agent which purifies or cleanses.
<cell biology> Amphipathic, surface active, molecules with polar (water soluble) and nonpolar hydrophobic) domains. They bind strongly to hydrophobic molecules or molecular domains to confer water solubility.
Examples include: sodium dodecyl sulphate, fatty acid salts, the Triton family, octyl glycoside.
Origin: L. Detergere = to cleanse
(11 Mar 2008)
detection, detector, detector coil, detent < Prev | Next > detergents, deterioration, determinant
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