What Is Decyl Glucose?

Two simple chemical compounds unite to form decyl glucose.

Decyl glucose, otherwise called decyl glucoside, consists of two simple chemical compounds that unite to form a useful component of products that we use daily.

Decanol

Decane is a string of 10 hydrocarbons attached to one another to form a chain. Three hydrogen atoms unite with the two end carbons, and two hydrogen atoms unite with each of the carbons in the middle of the chain. When an --OH group replaces one of these hydrogen atoms, the result is an alcohol called decanol.

Decanol Plus Glucose

Glucose is a simple sugar that has a backbone of six carbon atoms united with six oxygen atoms and 12 hydrogen atoms. When in solution, five of the carbons and one oxygen atom form a ring. When decanol and glucose unite, they become decyl glucose, which has the formula C16H32O6.

Surfactant

Decyl glucose is a surfactant. A surfactant is a substance that makes the surface of water less rigid so that it can unite more easily with such materials as dirt and grime. Water acquires an improved cleansing action as a result.

Skin Care

Decyl glucose is gentle to the skin. It is an ingredient in gentle shampoos, soaps and other products that pamper the skin.

References

• The Free Dictionary by Farlex: Surfactant
• ChemIndustry: Chemical Information Search
• All Natural Beauty Portal: Why Would Decyl Glucose and Coco Polyglucose Be Considered Harmful?
• Swift Crafty Monkey: Surfactants--A Short Guide to Things Lathery and Foamy
• "Botany: An Ecological Approach"; William A. Jensen and Frank B. Salisbury; 1972