Interfacial Phenomena

(Theory of Surface Tension & Action of

Surfactants)
PART 1
DRABE NICKSON.,(M.P.S)
 Lecture Venue

LAB 2:
“Pharmaceutics & Product Development
Laboratory”
Hey! Do you love being a Pharmacist?
….It actually means loving to be a scientist….
 Lecture Objectives
• To state the definition of Surface tension and discuss its meaning

• To discuss the Physics of the molecular mechanism of Surface tension

• To practically demonstrate the manifestations of surface tension

• To demonstrate the variations in surface tension among common liquids in Pharmacy

• To discuss the theory of the action of Surfactants

• To discuss the types of surfactants employed in Pharmaceutical formulations

To practically demonstrate how the common surfactants in Pharmacy lower the surface tension of
common liquids in Pharmacy
 Surface vs Interface
A surface is the outer boundary of a material
• In reality, each surface is the boundary between two phases i.e. an interface.
• This can be;-

1. solid/liquid (SL),
2. solid/vapour (SV)
3. liquid/vapour (LV);
4. two immiscible phases of the same state (LL & SS interfaces)

• There cannot be vapour/vapour interfaces, as two vapours would mix, rather than form an
interface
 Surface tension
“Surface tension is the tension of the surface film of a liquid caused by the
attraction of the particles in the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which
tends to minimize surface area”

• It is the tendency of fluid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area
possible

• This attempts to minimize the area of contact between the two phases

• ST is a property determined by both phases at the interface not one

Surface tension in ‘pics’!!
 Surface tension in ‘vids’!!
press: ctrl+ left click to follow link

• https://youtu.be/OeYYiSsPf4I Exciting Demonstrations of Surface tension with

common objects
• https://youtu.be/5NCOnr3VSAY BBC Earth Lab demo of surface tension
• https://youtu.be/pmagWO-kQ0M Khan academy explanation of the mechanism
of surface tension
• https://youtu.be/zMzqiAuOSz0 Another explanation of surface tension
mechanism

NOTE: You can watch as many videos about surface tension until you develop a
natural and intuitive appreciation of the phenomenon
 Why study Surface tension?
(Any implications in formulation?)

• Surface tension contributes to the fundamental instability of pharmaceutical

dosage forms that are disperse systems in nature

• Examples of such dispersions include;-

• Suspensions (solid in liquid)

• Emulsions (liquid in liquid)

• Foams (vapor in liquids) e.g. Regaine®

An understanding of surface tension is required in the design of stable
multiphasic formulations
 Mechanism of surface tension
Are molecules A and B experiencing forces the same style?
 Mechanism of surface tension
• Molecules in the bulk portion experience equal (cohesive) attraction in all directions
thus no resultant force in any direction.

• At the boundary between phases, molecules are acted upon unequally

• They are in contact with other molecules exhibiting different forces of attraction
(adhesive forces)
• The sideways forces balance out, but there is a net inward attraction in a line
perpendicular to the interface (molecules move into the bulk)

This leaves only fewer molecules to interact with molecules of the other phase
(reduced area of contact)
 Surface tension , Surface energy
& Surface work
• Surface tension γ; intrinsic tendency to minimize contact area between phases

• Surface energy ΔE; excess energy at the surface caused by increasing interfacial area by
ΔA , against surface tension γ.( ΔE= γΔA)

• A disperse system with high surface energy is unstable since it will spontaneously collapse
to minimize its total interfacial area by doing surface work

• Surface work ΔW; is done in changing interfacial area by ΔA. (ΔW= γΔA)

In pharmaceutical formulations, we reduce Surface energy by reducing surface tension

 Now you can see!!
Surface tension(γ) can also be defined as the amount of energy (ΔE)
required to increase the surface area between a liquid and a gas (e.g. air
& water) by 1 unit
OR
Interfacial tension (γ) can be defined as the amount of energy required
to increase the interfacial area between two immiscible liquids (e.g. oil
& water) by 1 unit.
γ=
 Surfactants

“Surface-active agents employed to reduce

surface/interfacial tension to form stable
disperse systems”
The action of surfactants
 The action of surfactants
• A surfactant molecule has a hydrophobic portion(A) and a hydrophilic portion (B)-thus is
amphipathic

• Surfactant molecules thus have the tendency to accumulate at interfaces of hydrophobic

and hydrophilic phases

• Replacement of some liquid molecules at the interface by surfactant molecules weakens

the cohesive attraction between adjacent liquid molecules

This weakens the surface/interfacial tension since adhesive forces are weaker than the
cohesive forces in this case
 Critical Micellar Concentration, CMC
• CMC is the threshold surfactant concentration beyond which micelles
are formed

See illustration on slide 15 !!

Why is the CMC value important to the formulator?

When do I need surfactants in formulation?
• Emulsions; Construction of stable emulsions
• Suspensions; enhancing wettability of suspended solids

• Solubility enhancement; solubilizing hydrophobic substances of poor aqueous

solubility
• Cleansing agents; anionic surfactants are used in body cleansing products

• Foam boosters; surfactants are used to generate, boost and stabilize foams

Cationic surfactants (Benzalkonium chloride, cetrimide & cetylpyridinium chloride)

have antimicrobial activity and thus can be used as preservatives and antiseptics
 READINGS
(mandatory)

1. Remington’s; Essentials of Pharmaceutics, chapter 19

2. Aulton’s Pharmaceutics; The Design and Manufacture of Medicines

Chapter 4
ADVANCED READINGS
(Optional)

1.Alexander T Florence & David Attwood;

Physicochemical Principles of Pharmacy,
4 Edition-Chapter 6
 OKAY,
ANY QUESTIONS?
TILL PART 2 ON COMMON SURFACTANTS IN PHARMACY