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Active substances and surfactants are two common substances in the field of chemistry, and they play important roles in different applications, but there are also some obvious differences. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the differences between these two and explain their roles in different applications

Active substances usually refer to substances that act as catalysts or catalysts in chemical reactions. They can accelerate the reaction rate, reduce the reaction energy, and make the reaction more likely to occur. Active substances can participate in the intermediate steps of chemical reactions and are not consumed by the reaction, so they can play a catalytic role multiple times in the reaction process. For example, an enzyme is a common active substance that can accelerate metabolic processes in organisms, thereby promoting the progress of life activities

Compared to active substances, surfactants are a type of chemical substance that can reduce the surface tension of liquids. Surface tension is a characteristic of liquid surfaces, which refers to the result of the interaction forces between liquid molecules. Surfactants can adsorb on the surface of liquids, change the chemical properties of the surface, reduce the attraction between liquid molecules, and thus reduce the surface tension of the liquid. This makes the liquid surface easier to flow and suitable for use in some special applications, such as the cleaning effect in detergents

From a functional perspective, active substances focus more on promoting the rate and yield of reactions, and they can be used multiple times without depletion. Surfactants, on the other hand, focus more on reducing surface tension, improving the fluidity and interfacial properties of liquids. Although the roles of the two are slightly different, there may also be overlap in some specific applications. For example, some active substances are used as surfactants because they can catalyze reactions while reducing surface tension

To sum up, active substances and surfactants are two different substances in the field of chemistry. Active substances are mainly used for catalytic reactions and can accelerate the reaction rate. Surfactants are mainly used to reduce the surface tension of liquids, improve fluidity and interface properties. Although their functions may be slightly different, they may also be used interchangeably in some specific applications. A deep understanding of the characteristics and applications of active substances and surfactants is crucial for practitioners and related researchers in the field of chemistry.