4.
5 SOAP AND DETERGENT
Carbon compounds like soaps and detergents are important
cleansing agents.
They help in removing dirt and oily substances from clothes and
the body.
Soap: Sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids is called
Soap.
General formula: RCOO–Na+
• They are produced by the reaction of fats and oils with an alkali (NaOH
or KOH). This process is called saponification.
Reaction:
Fat or oil + NaOH → Glycerol + Sodium salt of fatty acid (Soap)
Example:
C₁₇H₃₅COOH + NaOH → C₁₇H₃₅COONa + H₂O
sodium stearate. (soap)
• The soap molecule has two parts:
RCOO–Na+
1. Hydrophobic tail – a long hydrocarbon chain (repels water but
attracts oil and grease)
Non ionic part, insoluble in water, soluble in oil or fat
2. Hydrophilic head – the carboxylate group (–COONa) that is soluble in
water. Ionic part, insoluble in oil or fat.
Physical properties of soap
Basic in nature (salt of strong base and weak acid)
Biodegradable (long straight chain hydrocarbon)
Mild cleansing agent
Produce lather in soft water
No lather in hard water – produce scum in hard water
Soap solution is a colloidal solution, it shows Tindall effect.
NOTE=
Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acids, such as Oleic acid
(C17H33COOH), Stearic acid (C17H35COOH), Palmitic acid (C15H31COOH), etc. These acids
are present in the form of their esters along with glycerol (alcohol containing three
hydroxyl groups). These esters, called ‘glycerides’ are present in fats and oils of animal
and vegetable origin.
Preparation of Soap: When an oil or fat (glyceride) is treated with sodium hydroxide
solution, it gets converted to sodium salt of the acid (soap) and glycerol. The reaction is
known as saponification.
How Soap Cleans
• When soap is dissolved in water and clothes are washed, the
hydrophobic tail of the soap molecule attaches itself to the oily dirt,
while the hydrophilic head remains in water.This forms a structure
called a micelle.
• The micelles trap the oily dirt in the center, with the hydrophilic ends
facing outward.
• When the fabric is rinsed with water, the micelles get washed away,
taking the dirt with them.
Hence, soap helps to remove grease and dirt effectively.
Micelle Formation
• A micelle is a spherical aggregate of soap molecules formed in water
above a certain concentration called the Critical Micelle Concentration
(CMC).
• In a micelle:
- The hydrophobic tails are directed towards the center.
- The hydrophilic heads point outward into the surrounding water.
• The formation of micelles helps to emulsify oil and dirt, making them
easier to wash away.
Limitations of Soap
• Soaps do not work well in hard water.
• Hard water contains calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions,
which react with soap to form insoluble salts (scum).
• These insoluble salts reduce the cleansing ability of soap and cause
wastage.
Reference area_
Hard water and soft water
Action of soap with hard water
Detergent: Ammonium and sulphonate salts of long chain fatty acids
are called Detergent.
Example: CH3—(CH2)11—C6H4—SO3Na.
• Detergents are cleansing agents similar to soaps but are made from
hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.
• They are generally sodium or ammonium salts of long-chain alkyl
benzene sulfonic acids or alkyl sulfates.
• Example: Sodium lauryl sulfate (C₁₂H₂₅OSO₃Na)
• Detergents work well even in hard water because they do not form
insoluble precipitates with calcium and magnesium ions.
• Therefore, detergents are more suitable for washing clothes in both
soft and hard water.
Advantages of Detergents over Soaps
1. They can be used in both soft and hard water.
2. They form more foam and have better cleansing action.
3. They do not form scum with hard water.
4. They are more effective in acidic solutions.
Disadvantages of Detergents
1. Some detergents are non-biodegradable and cause water pollution.
2. Excess use of detergents harms aquatic life.
3. They are comparatively more expensive than soaps.
Difference between soaps and detergents
Soaps Detergents
i) These are sodium or i) These are ammonium and
potassium salts of long sulphonate salts of long
chain fatty acids. chain fatty acids.
ii) Ionic part of the soap is — ii) Ionic part of detergent is —
COO–Na+ OSO3-Na+.
iii) Their efficiency decreases iii) Their efficiency is
in hard water unaffected in hard water.
iv) Soaps are biodegradable. iv) Detergents are non-
v) Made from natural biodegradable.
veg.oil or fat v) Made from
vi) Mild cleansing agent petrochemical oil
vi) Strong cleansing agent
