CHEMICALS FOR

CONSUMERS
The cleansing action of detergents
Effectivenessofsoapsanddetergentsascleansingagents
Additives in detergent
 THE
CLEANSING ACTION
OF DETERGENTS
 Cleansing action of
detergents takes place
because it has the ability
to
to lower the surface tension of
water
emulsify oil or grease
hold them in a suspension in water

This is due to the structure of the

detergents
 in water,
detergent dissolves to form
sodium cations
detergent anion
the detergent anion
consists of
hydrophilic part - soluble in water
hydrophobic part - soluble in oils or
grease
 HOW DOES THE
CLEANSING ACTION
TAKES PLACE
 A detergent anion
The detergent reduces Therefore, the surface
consists of a
the surface tension of of the cloth is wetted
hydrophilic and
water thoroughly
hydrophobic part

Scrubbing/mechanical
agitation helps to pull The hydrophilic parts of The hydrophobic parts
the grease away and it the detergent anions of the detergentanions
is broken into smaller are soluble in water are soluble in grease
pieces

Repulsion between
droplets causes the The droplets do not
Rinsing washes
droplets to be coagulate or redeposit
away the droplets
suspended in water, on the cloth
forming emulsion
EFFECTIVENESSOFSOAPSAN
D
DETERGENTSASCLEANSINGA
GENTS
Advantages of soaps

Soaps are effective cleansing

agents in soft water, that is Soaps do not cause pollution
water does not contain Mg2+ problems to the environment. This
and Ca2+ ions. is because soaps are made from
chemical found in animals and
plants. This means that soaps are
biodegradable, that is they can be
composed by the action of bacteria.
 Soaps
Soaps are
are
ineffective
ineffective in
in
hard water,
hard water,
that
that is,
is, water
water
that
that contains
contains
magnesium
magnesium
and
and calcium
calcium
salts.
salts. In
In hard
hard
water,
water, soaps
soaps
will
will react
react
with
with Mg2+
Mg2+
and
and thus,
thus,
soaps
soaps dodo not
not
lather
lather inin
hard
hard water.
water.
Stearic
Stearic acids
acids
Disadva
and
and other
other ntages
carboxylic
carboxylic
acids
acids do
do
of
notact
notact as
as soaps Scum
Scum is is grey
grey
cleansing
cleansing Soaps
Soaps are
are
notalso solid
solid that is
that is
agents
agents notalso
effective insoluble
insoluble in in
because
because effective in
in water.
they acidic
acidic water, water. ItIt
they exist
exist water, consists
mainly forexample consists ofof
mainly as
as forexample magnesium
molecules rainwater
rainwater magnesium
molecules stearate
and containing stearate and
and
and do
do not
not containing calcium
anionic dissolves
dissolves calcium
anionic stearate.
hydrophilic acids.
acids. H+
H+ stearate.
hydrophilic
ends
ends ions
ions from
from
(head)that
(head)that acids
acids
dissolves
dissolves in
in willreact
willreact
water.
water. with
with
soapions
soapions to to
produce
produce
carboxylicac
carboxylicac
ids
ids
Advantages of detergents
Detergents are cleansing agents that are effective in soft water as well
as hard water. This is because detergents do not form scum with Mg+
and Ca2+ ions found in hard water.
The detergents ions (ROSO3- and RSO3-)react with Mg+ and Ca2+
ions in hard water. However, the magnesium salts and calciumsalts
which are formed aresoluble in water. Hence, the scum is not formed
and the detergents are still active in hard water and lathers easily
Detergents are synthetic cleansing agents.This means that the
structure of the hydrocarbon chain canbe modified to
producedetergents with specific properties.Nowadays, different types
ofdetergent shave been synthesized for specific uses such asshampoos
and dish cleaner.
Furthermore, detergents are also effective in acidic water because H+
ion is acidic water do not combined with detergents ions.
 Disadvantages ofdetergents

Phosphates in
Most detergents have detergents act Detergents produce a
branchedhydrocarbon asfertilizers and lot of foam in water. The Additives such as
chains andare non- promote the growthof layer of foam sodium hydrochloride
biodegradable, thatis, water plants andalgae. thatcovers the water (bleaching
they cannot When the plants die and surface will prevents agents)releases
decomposed by decay, they will used up oxygen from dissolving chlorine gas in water
bacteria. Asa result, the oxygen dissolves in in water. This condition thatis acidic. Chlorine
non-biodegradable water. This will decrease will cause fish and other gas is highly toxic and
detergents cause water the oxygen content in aquatic life till die from kills aquatic life.
pollution. water and kill fishes and oxygen starvation.
other aquatic lives.
ADDITIVES IN
DETERGENT

Efficiency Enhancer
 Biological Enzyme
To remove protein stains
Eg : Amylase, Cellulase, Lipase (Oil),
Protease (Blood)
Foam Control Agent
Control foaming in detergent
Eg : Silicones
Builder
Enhance the surfactant efficiency
Sodium phosphate, sodium
tripolyphosphate
 Filler
Make the solid detergent dry and
enable the liquid detergent to be
poured easily.
Eg: Sodium silicate, sodium sulphate
Fragrance
Add fragrance
Optical brightener/ whitener
- Add brightness by convert UV
radiation to blue light and whiteness
- Fluorescent dye
 Stabilizing Agent
Lower the production of foam
Silicones
Suspension Agent
Prevent the dirt particles removed from
redepositing onto cleaned fabrics
Sodium carboxymethylcellulose,
carboxymethylcellulose
Whitening Agent
Bleach stains
Sodium hypochlorite, Sodium perborate
 THE END
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