In alkaline perms, ATG is a compound of which chemicals?

In alkaline perms, the primary active compound used is ammonium thioglycolate (ATG), which is derived from the combination of ammonia and thioglycolic acid. Ammonia serves to raise the pH level of the hair, making it more alkaline, which is beneficial for breaking down the disulfide bonds in the hair’s protein structure. Thioglycolic acid contributes to the perming process by softening the hair, allowing it to be reshaped into curls or waves when wrapped around perm rods. This combination is effective for creating long-lasting curls in hair types that require more strength and a higher pH for effective perming.

The other choices consist of chemicals that don't play a role in the composition of ATG. Choices involving formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and calcium hydroxide are either characteristic of different processes in hair treatment or do not have a direct role in the formation of the compound used in alkaline perms. Thus, the choice of ammonia and thioglycolic acid accurately reflects the formulation of ATG used in alkaline perms.