The substances thus added to stabilise the emulsions are called emulsifiers or emulsifying agents.
The substances commonly used as emulsifying agents are soaps of various kinds, long chain sulphonic acids (i.e.,
detergents )
or lyophilic (
proteings, gums , agar etc .
ltbr. Role of amulsifier :
Sopa consists of two parts, the hydrocaron part (C15H31,C17H35,
etc )
. which is soluble in oil and the polar group (COOc-Na⊕)
which is soluble in water.
When a drop of oil is added to the soap part, the R-
part of the soap remains in the oil and COOc-Nac-
part remains in water. THus, soap molecules are concentrated over the surface of drop of oil. As a result, the interfacial between oil and water decreses & hence they are intermixed into each other to form the emulsion to form micells.
