Are there any industrial chemists out there?

[Foreign Fruitcake]

I know this is a bizarre place for a question such as this, but since this place is frequented by many academics I thought I would give it a a shot.

Can somebody please explain in plain english what the basic function/role is of each of these chemicals? They are from an MSDS for an electronics cleaner/degreaser.

Okay here we go:

A) 2-Butoxyethanol

B) Octylphenoxpolyethoxyethanol (nonionic surfactant)

C) Disodium Trioxosilicate Pentahydrate

D) Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate

E) Ammonium Hydroxide

F) Caustic Soda

You have my undying thanks in advance!

[LSJ]

2-Butoxyethanol.... apart from being a solvent used in paints I have no idea. It makes sense to be in a cleaner, since its an organic solvent.

Octylphenoxpolyethoxyethanol... not a clue.
Disodium Trioxosilicate Pentahydrate... ditto

Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate has a lot of uses, from tin plating to rubber production... not sure what role it plays in a cleaner/degreaser.

Ammonium Hydroxide is used to kill bacteria. I don't know why its in an electronics cleaner.

Caustic Soda/ Sodium Hydroxide can be used to dissolve aluminum, or create sodium silicate (which is hard like glass and frosts a beaker if you aren't careful). If the cleaner is a spray, DONT get any of it on a computer screen or it'll get ruined,

Compounds alone do very different things when they're combined. Some of those things have a lot of industrial uses. Collectively I don't know what role they play.:hmmm:

[Foreign Fruitcake]

Well hey thanks thats a good start.

[Simetrical]

Moved from Thema Devia to Athenaeum.