What is the primary function of surfactants in spray mixtures?

Surfactants play a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of spray mixtures by lowering the surface tension of droplets. This reduction in surface tension allows the droplets to spread out more evenly on the target surface, ensuring better coverage of the area being treated. When the surface tension is decreased, the droplets can penetrate into small cracks and crevices, improving the overall contact between the pesticide and the target organisms or surfaces. This improvement in coverage is particularly crucial in agricultural applications, where thorough application can affect the efficacy of the treatment.

In contrast, while surfactants may have a slight impact on evaporation rates, altering the viscosity of the solution, or influencing droplet size, these are not their primary functions. The key benefit of surfactants lies in enhancing coverage through surface tension reduction, which is essential for achieving desired results in pest control and other applications.