Sodium laureth sulfate
Systematic name	Sodium laureth sulfate
Chemical formula	CH3(CH2)10CH2(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na
Molecular mass	around 420 g/mol
Density	x.xxx g/cm3
Melting point	xx.x °C
Boiling point	xx.x °C
CAS number	[009004-82-4]
SMILES	xxxxx
Disclaimer and references

Sodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective foamer. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (4575x849, 82 KB) Chemical structure of sodium laureth sulfate. ... IUPAC nomenclature is a system of naming chemical compounds and of describing the science of chemistry in general. ... A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ... The molecular mass (abbreviated MM) of a substance, formerly also called molecular weight and abbreviated as MW, is the mass of one molecule of that substance, relative to the unified atomic mass unit u (equal to 1/12 the mass of one atom of carbon-12). ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per volume. ... The melting point of a crystalline solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid at a given pressure. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... The simplified molecular input line entry specification or SMILES is a specification for unambiguously describing the structure of chemical molecules using short ASCII strings. ... Display of Tide on sale at a supermarket Laundry detergents are just only one of many possibilities of use of the detergents Detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ... Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids. ... It has been suggested that Soapmaking be merged into this article or section. ... Several shampoos on a shower window Shampoo (Hindi: शम्पू) is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, environmental pollution and/or other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair. ... Modern toothpaste gel Toothpaste is a paste or gel used to clean and improve the aesthetic appearance and health of teeth. ... Sea foam on the beach. ...

Its chemical formula is CH₃(CH₂)₁₀CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)_nOSO₃Na. Sometimes the number represented by "n" is specified in the name, for example laureth-2 sulfate. The commercial product is heterogeneous, both in the length of the alkyl chain (12 being the mode of the number of carbon atoms), and in the number of ethoxyl groups, where n is the mean. n=3 is common in commercial products. SLES can be derived from ethoxylation of SDS. General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Atomic mass 15. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sodium, Na, 11 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 22. ... An alkyl is a univalent radical containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in a chain. ... Ethoxylation is a chemical process in which ethylene oxide (IUPAC name: 1,2-epoxyethane) is added to fatty acids in order to make them more soluble in water. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources. ...

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS; also known as sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products, although they are more harsh on skin^{[not in citation given]}.^[1] This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), is an anionic surfactant found in cosmetic and toiletry formulations, with some shampoos containing up to 30% ALS. CH3(CH2)10CH2OSO3NH4 The chemical can cause skin and eye irritation, and is generally only found in products that are on the skin for a short period. ...

While SLS is a known irritant, anecdotal evidence and research suggest that SLES also irritates the eyes and skin after extended exposure^[2] It also results in an increase in mouth ulcers (most commonly canker sores, RAS, Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis)^{[citation needed]}, possibly through a disruptive/denaturing effect on the oral mucin layer. A mouth ulcer or canker sore is a painful open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane. ...

Effects on Sensitive Skin

Products containing these substances can affect those prone to eczema and other irritants. These substances provide a foaming quality to the product, allowing for better distribution of the product while washing hair or skin and while brushing teeth. When rinsed off, the product will have cleaned the area but will have taken moisture from the top layers of skin. In people with sensitive skin (prone to Dermatitis, Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis and chemical sensitivity) the drying property of these detergents can cause flare-ups of skin conditions or may worsen existing conditions. Canker sores and tongue irritations may be an effect on those with immune system issues, vitamin deficiencies and chemical sensitivities when used in toothpaste. These cases are more frequent with sensitive skin when used directly on the body (bath soap, liquid dish soap, shampoo, etc.) but may not irritate sensitive skin when used in laundry detergent and other cleaners.

Carcinogen Rumour

Rumors have circulated widely on the internet that SLS/SLES are carcinogenic. They have spread through chain emails citing a fake report supposedly published by the Journal of the American College of Toxicology. No legitimate evidence can be found to support this claim. In response to the rumour, the Cosmetics Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) and the American Cancer Society have confirmed it to be an urban legend. ^[3] SLES and SLS have been known to become contaminated with 1,4-dioxane.^[4] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane to be a probable carcinogen.^{[citation needed]} While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration encourages manufacturers to remove this contaminant, it not currently required by federal law.^{[citation needed]} The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a medical organization with a corporate attitude in the United States. ... An urban legend is a kind of modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ... 1,4-Dioxane, often just called dioxane, is a clear, colorless heterocyclic organic compound which is a liquid at room temperature and pressure. ...

Alternative names

• Steol-130, 230, 270, 330, 370 or 460
• Stepanol
• Alkyl Ether Sulfate
• Sodium POE(2) Lauryl Ether Sulfate
• Sodium Diethylene glycol Lauryl Ether Sulfate
• Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate

References

1. ^ Sodium Laureth Sulfate POE(2). Chemical Land 21, Seoul, Korea. Retrieved on 2006-08-10.
2. ^ [A.], et al. (Nov 1994). "Abnormal skin irritancy in atopic dermatitis and in atopy without dermatitis". Archives of Dermatology 130 (11).
3. ^ Rumor: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Causes Cancer. CTFA website. The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (13 October 2000). Retrieved on 2006-08-10.
4. ^ Roderick E. Black, Fred J. Hurley, Donald C. Havery (May 2001). "Occurrence of 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetic Raw Materials and Finished Cosmetic Products". Journal of AOAC International 84 (3): 666-670. Retrieved on 2006-10-24.

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External links

• Description and health effects of sodium laureth sulfate by Children's Health Environmental Coalition
• Properties and descryption of sodium laureth sulfate at chemicalland21.com
• sodium laureth sulfate does not cause cancer by SlashHair.net
• Snopes.com critique of the Carcinogen Rumour

• Links to external chemical sources.