Question

Benzalkonium Chloride is a
A. Cationic surfactant and antiseptic
B. Anionic surfactant and soluble in most of the organic solvents
C. Cationic surfactant and insoluble in most of the organic solvents
D. Cationic surfactant and antimalarial

Answer 1

Hint: Benzalkonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt that is positively charged. Quaternary salts of ammonia are formed when hydrogen atoms of ammonium ions \[\left[ {NH_4^ + } \right]\] are replaced by bulky alkyl groups and represented as \[\left[ {NR_4^ + } \right]\] . The alkyl group may be the same or different depending upon the structure of the compound.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Benzalkonium chloride is an organic compound that is a quaternary ammonium salt of chlorine represented as \[\left[ {{C_6}{H_5}C{H_2}{{\left( {C{H_3}} \right)}_2}R{N^ + }} \right]C{l^ - }\] .where R is an alkyl group.

As we can see that it has a positive charge and thus it is a cationic surfactant. Benzalkonium chloride is used as an antiseptic and used in preventing the growth of microorganisms like fungus, bacteria, viruses, etc.

Benzalkonium chloride is soluble in polar solvents like alcohol and acetone and insoluble in nonpolar organic solvents.

Thus, option A is correct as Benzalkonium chloride is a cationic surfactant and antiseptic.

Additional information: The salt of Benzalkonium chloride is used by manufacturers of the eye, ear, and nasal drops and prevents the growth of microorganisms. As it is antimicrobial it is used in the manufacturing of hand washes and sanitizers.

Note: Benzalkonium chloride is used as a phase transfer catalyst. A phase transfer catalyst is a catalyst that helps in the migration of reactants from one phase to another phase.