Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is widely used as a surfactant in cleaning and personal care products. It is a key ingredient in many household detergents, dishwashing liquids, and laundry detergents due to its ability to break down oils and grease, making it effective for removing dirt and stains. In personal care, SDS is found in shampoos, toothpaste, and body washes, where it acts as a foaming agent to create lather and help cleanse the skin and hair. In the laboratory, SDS is commonly used in biochemistry and molecular biology for protein denaturation and electrophoresis. It helps to unfold proteins by breaking non-covalent bonds, allowing them to be separated by size during SDS-PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). This technique is essential for analyzing protein samples in research and diagnostics. Additionally, SDS is utilized in industrial applications, such as in the production of textiles, where it aids in the wetting and emulsifying processes. It also finds use in the pharmaceutical industry as an excipient in drug formulations to improve solubility and absorption. Its versatility and effectiveness make SDS a valuable compound across various fields.