Classification of SURFACTANT

Surfactants can be classified in the following ways 

1. According to their uses 

2. According to their ionic nature 

1. According to their uses: These may be classify as given below as per their applications: 

Wetting agents,  Solubilizing agents,  Emulsifying agents, Dispersing agents, Suspending & Deflocculating agents, Foaming and antifoaming agents, Detergents

2. According to their ionic nature : Ionic and Non Ionic
Ionic can further divided in to Anionic, Cationic and Amhoteric or Zwitterionic

Anionic: Those that develop a negative charge on the water solubilizing end.
Cationic: Those that develop a positive charge on the water solubilizing end.
Non-Ionic: Those that develop no ionic charge on the water solubilizing end. 
Amphoteric or Zwitterionic (: Those that have both a positive and negative charged group on the molecule.