Chemistry-soaps And Detergents

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

is more expensive. The base used to come from wood ash containing potassium carbonate which formed potash as this was not plentiful it made soap a luxury. The cheapest source of the ester is animal and vegetable fats and oils.
H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H O
H-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C
H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H O-Na+

This is an example of a soap molecule. The hydrocarbon end is non polar and hydrophilic (water hating) and the carboxylate end is polar and hydrophilic (water loving). This the property which allows it to clean, it acts as an emulsifying agent. The soap disperses in water to form miscelles where a negatively charged surface is formed and hydrocarbon chains are in the centre. These miscelles surround droplets of dirt or grease suspending them in the water so they can be washed away.

In soft neutral water soap works very well. However in hard water those containing ions (calcium and magnesium ions) the soap reacts with the ions ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE: