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The spreading behavior of ionic surface active materials, SDS and CTAB and nonionic surface active materials, Tween 80 and Arkopal 15 on the water surface with large thickness is studied both theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the distance traveled by the leading front of the spreading film depends on the surface tension of surface active material and underlying liquid and also on viscosity and density of the underlying liquid. The study of the distance traveled by different surface active materials on the water surface shows a good agreement between the experimental results and the proposed mathematical model.