Crystalline solids based upon molecular

Crystalline solids based upon molecular components exhibit numerous properties of fundamental scientific and technological interest, including electrical conductivity, superconductivity, nonlinear optical l havior, and ferromagnetism.(7) The principle... 

Schemes for classifying surfactants are based upon physical properties or upon functionality. Charge is tire most prevalent physical property used in classifying surfactants. Surfactants are charged or uncharged, ionic or nonionic. Charged surfactants are furtlier classified as to whetlier tire amphipatliic portion is anionic, cationic or zwitterionic. Anotlier physical classification scheme is based upon overall size and molecular weight. Copolymeric nonionic surfactants may reach sizes corresponding to 10 000-20 000 Daltons. Physical state is anotlier important physical property, as surfactants may be obtained as crystalline solids, amoriDhous pastes or liquids under standard conditions. The number of tailgroups in a surfactant has recently become an important parameter. Many surfactants have eitlier one or two hydrocarbon tailgroups, and recent advances in surfactant science include even more complex assemblies [7, 8 and 9].

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