Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Organic: Chemistry in Everyday Life

Question:

Benzalkonium chloride is a

Options:

cationic surfactant and antiseptic

anionic surfactant and soluble in most of the organic solvents

cationic surfactant and insoluble in most organic solvents.

cationic surfactant and antimalarial

Correct Answer:

cationic surfactant and antiseptic

Explanation:

The correct answer is 1. Benzalkonium chloride is a cationic surfactant and antiseptic. It is a quaternary ammonium compound that has a positively charged head and a negatively charged tail. This allows it to interact with the negatively charged cell membranes of bacteria and viruses, disrupting their structure and killing them. Benzalkonium chloride is also soluble in water and most organic solvents. It is used in a variety of products, including antiseptics, disinfectants, and cosmetics.

Benzalkonium chloride is not an anionic surfactant, nor is it insoluble in most organic solvents. It is also not an antimalarial.

Here is a table that summarizes the properties of benzalkonium chloride:

Property

Value

Type of surfactant

Cationic

Soluble in

Water and most organic solvents

Antiseptic

Yes

Disinfectant

Yes

Cosmetic ingredient

Yes

Antimalarial

No