Name: Micelles
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min 52 s
Description: In daily life, we use soaps and detergents. But have you ever thought about how their cleansing action takes place? Let’s explore the complete mechanism and...

Question

Both soap and detergent are some types 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.

Accepted Answer

The differences between soaps and detergents are:

Soaps Detergents

1. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids like oleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid. 1. Detergents are sodium salts of sulphonated long-chain alcohols or hydrocarbons.

Soaps Detergents

2. Soaps can be used only in soft water. 2. Detergents can be used both in soft water and hard water.

The cleansing action of soap: When soap is dissolved in water, its molecules form aggregates of spherical shape with their hydrocarbon part pointing towards the centre and ionic part pointing outwards. These aggregates are known as micelles. The hydrocarbon part is non-polar while the ionic part is polar. Dirt and other greasy spots are oily in nature when soap solution is applied on this spot they form micelles around that spot in such a way that the hydrocarbon part of the soap molecule is in the oil droplet and the hydrophilic part projects out of it.
When we rinse the clothes in water, the dirty spots that are surrounded by the soap molecule are pulled out of the cloth in water and the cloth is cleaned.

Soaps do not form lather in hard water because hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions and these ions form insoluble precipitates of calcium and magnesium with water called scum and this scum makes cleaning difficult by sticking to the fibre of the cloth.

Two problems that arise due to the use of detergents instead of soaps are:
1) Detergents are non-biodegradable and can cause water pollution.

2) Being non-biodegradable, they can enter into the food chain through water and can cause serious health issues.

Both soap and detergent are some types 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.

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