Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (CH₃(CH₂)₁₁OSO₃Na), also known as sodium lauryl sulfate or just SDS, is an ionic detergent that is commonly found in household products such as shampoos. The molecule has a tail of 12 carbon atoms, attached to a sulfate group, giving the molecule the amphiphilic[?] properties required of a detergent.

The material has industrial use as a detergent, and is a common ingredient of household products such as shampoos.

In laboratories, SDS is commonly used in gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), where its detergent properties help keep the proteins being studied in a denatured state.