PSI Barbering Practice Exam

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Which type of substance helps oil and water to mix by reducing surface tension?

Detergent
Surfactant
Emulsion
Solvent

The correct answer is: Surfactant

A surfactant is a type of substance that facilitates the mixing of oil and water by lowering the surface tension between the two liquids. Surfactants contain both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties, which allows them to effectively interact with both water and oils. When added to a mixture of oil and water, surfactants orient themselves at the interface and reduce the surface tension, allowing the two phases to blend more easily and form stable emulsions. In contrast, detergents, which can also have surfactant properties, are specifically formulated to cleanse and remove dirt and grease, but they are primarily used for cleaning purposes rather than for simply aiding the mixing of oil and water. An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible liquids stabilized by an emulsifier, but the term does not refer to the substance causing the mixing. A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, forming a solution, but it does not necessarily help oil and water mix; many solvents are not effective in mixing oils and waters due to their polar or nonpolar nature.