Tween 20 is a nonionic surfactant consisting of a complex mixture of ethoxylated sorbitol and sorbitan esters and fatty acids, predominantly lauric acid (C12:0), with a controlled degree of polymerization. It is a viscous, colorless to pale yellow, and odorless liquid.
Highly soluble in water, it forms clear and stable solutions in aqueous media and is also miscible with short-chain alcohols such as ethanol and methanol in all proportions. In contrast, it is completely insoluble in nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents, such as hexane and mineral oils.
The balanced amphiphilic structure of Tween 20 enables micelle formation, providing efficient emulsifying properties and superior wetting performance while significantly reducing the surface tension of water. (CAS: 9005-64-5)
