At room temperature, taurates are usually pasty masses, which dissolve well in water and react then neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7–8). Their toxicity is low (the LD, rat, oral is 7800 mg·kg for cocoyl tauride). They are easily biodegradable, they are not prone to bioaccumulation, but they are harmful to aquatic organisms (like all surfactants). Due to their amide bond, taurates are stable in a much wider pH range (about 2–10) than the corresponding esters, as for example isethionates. They are very mild surfactants with good foaming ability and high foam stability, even in the presence of fats and oils. Taurates retain their good washing properties even in hard water or seawater. Taurates are suitable in concentrations of about 2% as co-surfactants because of their good compatibility with all nonionic and anionic surfactants.