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Both soap and detergent are some type of salts. What is the difference between them? Describe in brief the cleansing action of soap. Why do soaps not form lather in hard water? List two problems that arise due to the use of detergents instead of soaps.
The main difference between soap and detergent is that the molecules of soap are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. Detergents are generally ammonium or sulphonate salts of long-chain carboxylic acids.
The cleansing action of soap can be described as follows:
- A soap molecule has a tadpole-shaped structure.
- At one end (long non-polar end) of the soap molecule, is a hydrocarbon chain that is insoluble in water but soluble in oil.
- At the other end (short polar end) of the soap molecule, there is a carboxylate ion which is hydrophilic, i.e. water-soluble but insoluble in oil.
- Soap on mixing with water forms a concentrated solution and causes foaming.
- The long non-polar end of soap gravitates towards and surrounds the dirt and absorbs the dust in it.
- The short polar end with the carboxylate ion repels the water away from the dirt.
- A spherical aggregate of soap molecules is formed in the soap solution in water and is called a micelle.Thus, the soap molecule dissolves the dirt and our clothes get clean.
Soaps do not form lather in hard water because hard water contains calcium and magnesium salts. Soap molecules react with calcium and magnesium salts to form an insoluble precipitate called scum.
Two problems that arise because of the use of detergents instead of soap is given below:
- Soaps are biodegradable, while detergents are non-biodegradable; hence, detergents are toxic to the environment.
- Certain phosphate additives are added to detergents. These phosphate additives act as nutrients for algae which form a thick green scum over the river water and upset the animal life in the river.
Updated on: 10-Oct-2022
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