what is the properties of detergent

Soaps and Detergents – Properties of Detergents

1. Synthetic detergents are unaffected by the ions in hard water. ...
2. With hard water, synthetic detergents do not generate insoluble calcium or magnesium salts. ...
3. Synthetic detergents can be used in acidic and seawater, as they are the salts of strong acid and are not decomposed in an acidic medium.
4. Some of the synthetic detergents are non-biodegradable.

Full Answer

What are the properties of soap and detergent?

Soaps are the sodium salts of carboxylic acids in long chains. Sodium salts of long-chain benzene sulphonic acids are detergents. Soaps are biodegradable while some of the detergents can not be biodegraded. Soaps have relatively weak cleaning action, whereas detergents have a strong cleaning effect.

Which of the following is the property of detergents they?

Detailed Solution. Detergents are amphiphilic molecules, as they possess hydrophobic end and hydrophilic head parts in their structures.

What is the function of detergent?

A detergent is a substance or a mixture containing soaps and/or surfactants (any organic substance/mixture) intended for washing and cleaning processes.

What is the hazardous properties of detergent?

The detergents that we are using may have a harmful chemical called Nonylphenol (NP) which is banned in several countries or is being phased out owing to its harmful effects on humans and aquatic organisms.

What are the 5 types of detergents?

Let Us Have A Look At The Different Types Of Detergent Available In The Market: Broadly speaking, when it comes to different types of detergents, there are a lot many available, 1) DIY 2) conventional 3) powder 4) liquid 5) Non Toxic.

What is the main chemical in detergent?

Alkalies. Alkalies, a major component in most laundry detergents, are soluble salts and a base that reacts with an acid to neutralize it. They are effective in removing dirt and stains from fabric without excessive rubbing. Soluble salts of an alkali metal, such as potassium or sodium, are good grease removers.

Why is it called detergent?

The word "detergent" comes from the Latin word "detergere," which means "to wipe away." Prior to the invention of detergent, washing soda or sodium carbonate was most often used for dishwashing and laundering clothing.

What is detergent made from?

Soaps and detergents are made from long molecules that contain a head and tail. These molecules are called surfactants; the diagram below represents a surfactant molecule. The head of the molecule is attracted to water (hydrophilic) and the tail is attracted to grease and dirt (hydrophobic).

What is a detergent simple definition?

noun. Definition of detergent (Entry 2 of 2) : a cleansing agent: such as. a : soap. b : any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents.

What are the types of detergents?

Detergents are classified into four broad groupings, depending on the electrical charge of the surfactants.Anionic detergents.Cationic detergents.Non-ionic detergents.Amphoteric detergents.

How are detergents classified?

Detergents are classified based on either the hydrophilic head group or the hydrophobic tail group. Based on the head group, there are four categories of detergents—nonionic, anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic. Nonionic detergents are most commonly used for solubilization.

What are the examples of detergents?

Examples of everyday detergent products are laundry and fabric softeners, all-purpose cleaners and mixtures intended for soaking (pre-washing) rinsing or bleaching.

What are the properties of surfactant?

In addition to lowering surface and interfacial tension, and rendering soluble what is insoluble, surfactants also have a number of other useful properties including:Emulsifying or dispersing power.Wetting.Foaming.Suspending/stabilising power.

Why are detergents used for cleaning?

Detergents and soaps are used for cleaning because pure water can't remove oily, organic soiling. Soap cleans by acting as an emulsifier. Basically, soap allows oil and water to mix so that oily grime can be removed during rinsing.

Why are detergents better than soaps for laundering?

In hard water conditions soaps form scum. Soap scum affects more than just cleanliness; it can deteriorate fabrics and eventually ruin clothing or other surfaces. Conversely, detergents can work in any level of water hardness since they react less to the many minerals in hard water.

What is the difference between soap and detergent quizlet?

The difference between soap and detergent is that soaps are made from natural material and also form scum when being used under hard water and detergents are manufactured from synthetic materials and do not form scum under hard water.

Q.1. What are examples of Detergents?

Ans: Laundry and fabric softeners, all-purpose cleaners, and combinations for soaking(pre-washing), rinsing, or bleaching are examples of common de...

Q.2. What are high-efficiency detergents?

Ans: High-efficiency (HE) laundry detergent is designed especially for high-efficiency washing machines, which use less water. (HE) Detergent provi...

Q.3. What is meant by detergents in chemistry?

Ans: A detergent is a sodium salt of long-chain benzene sulphonic acid or sodium salt of long-chain alkyl hydrogen sulfate, which has cleansing pro...

Q.4. How are detergents made up of?

Ans: Synthetic detergents are made by reacting petroleum hydrocarbons with concentrated sulphuric acid and converting them to their sodium salt.

Q.5. How are detergents works?

Ans: When an oily piece of cloth is dipped into a detergent solution, the Detergent’s hydrocarbon end bonds to the oily drop, and the polar end ori...

What is detergent used for?

Detergent – Does this word sound familiar to you? Yes, this is the substance used in laundry and dishwashing to remove stains, grease, and oils from clothing, utensils. Read the article to learn more about detergents.

How are synthetic detergents made?

Synthetic detergents are made by reacting petroleum hydrocarbons with concentrated sulphuric acid and converting them to their sodium salt. Long-chain alcohols are treated with strong sulphuric acid and then neutralized sulfate with alkali to make synthetic detergents.

Why are soapless soaps better than other soaps?

These are better cleansing agents because they do not form insoluble calcium and magnesium salt with hard water.

How many types of anionic detergents are there?

There are two types of anionic detergents:

What are the groups in soap called?

These are also called soapless soaps, detergents, Syndets, or non-soapy detergents.

Why are soaps good for you?

Advantage of soaps: Soaps are biodegradable, so they do not produce pollution.

Why is soap ineffective?

(I) Ordinary soaps are unsuitable for fabrics such as silks, wool, and other natural fibers. This is because the alkalis in them cause havoc on the fiber. (II) Soaps cannot be used for cleaning if the water is slightly acidic.

What are the structural characteristics of detergents?

These structural characteristics allow detergents to aggregate in aqueous media. At a sufficiently high concentration, the polar hydrophilic region of each molecule is oriented toward the polar solute (water) while the hydrophobic regions are grouped together to form thermodynamically stable micelles with hydrophobic cores. The hydrophobic core region of the detergent micelle associates with the hydrophobic surfaces of proteins and results in soluble protein-detergent complexes. Figure 2 is a simple illustration of a micelle to demonstrate the orientation concept. Actual micelle structures are more complex and dynamic, and can change due to detergent concentration and solution composition. 1

What are Detergents?

Detergents are amphipathic molecules that contain polar or charged hydrophilic groups (heads) at the end of long lipophilic hydrocarbon groups (tails) (Figure 1). They are also known as surfactants because they decrease the surface tension of water.

How does detergent affect protein activity?

Preservation of biological or enzymological activity may require experimenting with several detergents. Not only the type but also the quantity of the detergent used will affect the protein activity. For some proteins biological activity is preserved over a very narrow range of detergent concentration. Below this range the protein is not solubilized and above a particular concentration, the protein is inactivated.

What is the concentration of micelles?

The concentration at which micelles begin to form is the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The CMC is the maximum monomer concentration and constitutes a measure of the free energy of micelle formation. The lower the CMC, the more stable the micelle and the more slowly molecules are incorporated into or removed from the micelle. The structure of the hydrophobic region of the detergent can affect the micelle structure. An increase in the length of the hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain of ionic detergents results in an increased micelle size and a lower CMC, as fewer molecules are needed to construct a micelle.

How to determine micelle molecular weight?

The micelle molecular weight may be calculated by multiplying the aggregation number by the monomer molecular weight.

What is the CMC value of detergent?

The CMC value associated with the detergent is a useful guide to hydrophobic binding strength. Detergents with higher CMC values have weaker binding and are subsequently easier to remove by dialysis or displacement methods. Detergents with low CMC values require less detergent in order to form micelles and solubilize proteins or lipids.

What is biological detergent?

Biological detergents are commonly used to disrupt the bipolar lipid membrane of cells in order to release and solubilize membrane-bound proteins. Some detergents can be used to solubilize recombinant proteins, while others are recommended for the stabilization, crystallization, or denaturation of proteins. Detergents can align at aqueous/non-aqueous interfaces, resulting in reduced surface tension, increased miscibility, and stabilization of emulsions. Additional detergent applications include:

What is detergent in soap?

For other uses, see Detergent (disambiguation). Detergents. A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with cleansing properties in dilute solutions. These substances are usually alkylbenzene sulfonates, a family of compounds that are similar to soap ...

What is reagent grade detergent?

Reagent grade detergents are employed for the isolation and purification of integral membrane proteins found in biological cells. Solubilization of cell membrane bilayers requires a detergent that can enter the inner membrane monolayer. Advancements in the purity and sophistication of detergents have facilitated structural and biophysical characterization of important membrane proteins such as ion channels also the disrupt membrane by binding lipopolysaccharide, transporters, signaling receptors, and photosystem II.

What is the polar end of cationic detergent?

Cationic detergents are similar to the anionic ones, with a hydrophilic component, but, instead of the anionic sulfonate group, the cationic surfactants have quaternary ammonium as the polar end. The ammonium sulfate center is positively charged.

How many kilograms of anionic detergent are produced annually?

An estimated 6 billion kilograms of anionic detergents are produced annually for domestic markets. Bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid (DOC), are anionic detergents produced by the liver to aid in digestion and absorption of fats and oils. Three kinds of anionic detergents: a branched sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, ...

What detergents are used in fuel injectors?

Concentrations are about 300 ppm. Typical detergents are long-chain amines and amides such as polyisobuteneamine and polyisobuteneamide/ succinimide.

What is soap used for?

Soap is known to be have been used as a surfactant for washing clothes since the Sumerian time in 2,500 B.C. In ancient Egypt, soda was used as a wash additive. In the 19th century, synthetic surfactants began to be created, for example from olive oil. Sodium silicate (water glass) was used in soap-making in the United States in the 1860s, and in 1876, Henkel sold a sodium silicate-based product that can be used with soap and marketed as a "universal detergent" ( Universalwaschmittel) in Germany. Soda was then mixed with sodium silicate to produce Germany's first brand name detergent Bleichsoda. In 1907 Henkel also added a bleaching agent sodium perborate to launch the first 'self-acting' laundry detergent Persil to eliminate the laborious rubbing of laundry by hand.

What is the largest application of detergents?

One of the largest applications of detergents is for household and shop cleaning including dish washing and washing laundry. The formulations are complex, reflecting the diverse demands of the application and the highly competitive consumer market.

What is detergent in science?

A detergent is a surfactant or mixture of surfactants that has cleaning properties in dilute solution with water. A detergent is similar to soap, but with a general structure R-SO 4-, Na +, where R is a long-chain alkyl group.

Why are detergents important in laundry?

The additives are necessary because detergents have a difficult time removing dyes, pigments, resins, and denatured proteins.

What is the difference between cationic and non-ionic detergents?

Cationic detergents: Cationic detergents have a net positive electrical charge. The chemical structures of cationic detergents are similar to those of anionic detergents, but the sulfonate group is replaced by quaternary ammonium. Non-ionic detergents: Non-ionic detergents contain an uncharged hydrophilic group.

What are the different types of detergents?

Detergents are classified according to their electrical charge: 1 Anionic detergents: Anionic detergents have a net negative electrical charge. The liver produces bile acids, which are anionic detergents the body uses to digest and absorb fats. Commercial anionic detergents are usually alkylbenezesulfonates. The alkylbenzene is lipophilic and hydrophobic, so it can interact with fats and oils. The sulfonate is hydrophilic, so it can wash away soiling in water. Both linear and branched alkyl groups may be used, but detergents made with linear alkyl groups are more likely to be biodegradable. 2 Cationic detergents: Cationic detergents have a net positive electrical charge. The chemical structures of cationic detergents are similar to those of anionic detergents, but the sulfonate group is replaced by quaternary ammonium. 3 Non-ionic detergents: Non-ionic detergents contain an uncharged hydrophilic group. Usually, these compounds are based on a glycoside (sugar alcohol) or polyoxyethylene. Examples of non-ionic detergents include Triton, Tween, Brij, octyl thioglucoside, and maltoside. 4 Zwitterionic detergents: Zwitterionic detergents have equal numbers of +1 and -1 charges, so their net charge is 0. An example is CHAPS, which is 3- [ (3- ch olamidopropyl)dimethyl a mmonio]-1- p ropane s ulfonate.

Why was detergent invented?

An alkyl sulfate surfactant was formulated because the Allied Blockade of Germany in 1917 caused a shortage of soap-making ingredients. The word "detergent" comes from the Latin word "detergere," which means "to wipe away." Prior to the invention of detergent, washing soda or sodium carbonate was most often used for dishwashing and laundering clothing. In the United States, the first liquid dishwashing detergent was produced in the 1930s, while in Europe, the first detergent for this purpose (Teepol) was made in 1942. Laundry detergents came into use around the same time, although they were available in both solid and liquid forms. Both dishwashing and laundry detergent contain numerous other compounds, typically including enzymes, bleach, fragrances, dyes, fillers, and (for laundry detergent) optical brighteners. The additives are necessary because detergents have a difficult time removing dyes, pigments, resins, and denatured proteins. Reagent detergents for biology tend to be pure forms of the surfactants.

What is an anionic detergent?

Anionic detergents: Anionic detergents have a net negative electrical charge. The liver produces bile acids, which are anionic detergents the body uses to digest and absorb fats. Commercial anionic detergents are usually alkylbenezesulfonates. The alkylbenzene is lipophilic and hydrophobic, so it can interact with fats and oils. The sulfonate is hydrophilic, so it can wash away soiling in water. Both linear and branched alkyl groups may be used, but detergents made with linear alkyl groups are more likely to be biodegradable.

What is the net charge of zwitterionic detergent?

Zwitterionic detergents: Zwitterionic detergents have equal numbers of +1 and -1 charges, so their net charge is 0. An example is CHAPS, which is 3- [ (3- ch olamidopropyl)dimethyl a mmonio]-1- p ropane s ulfonate.

What is soap and detergent?

Soap and detergent, substances that, when dissolved in water, possess the ability to remove dirt from surfaces such as human skin, textiles, and other solids. The seemingly simple process of cleaning a soiled surface is, in fact, complex. Learn more about soap and detergent in this article.

How do detergents affect water?

Detergents (and other surface-active agents) increase the spreading and wetting ability of water by reducing its surface tension —that is, the affinity its molecules have for each other in preference to the molecules of the material to be washed. Absorption of a layer of the soap or detergent at the interfaces between the water and ...

How does soap work?

The soap or detergent accomplishes this by suspending the dirt in a protective colloid, sometimes with the aid of special additives. In a great many soiled surfaces the dirt is bound to the surface by a thin film of oil or grease. The cleaning of such surfaces involves the displacement of this film by the detergent solution, ...

Which detergents produce electrically negative colloidal particles?

Anionic detergents (including soap and the largest portion of modern synthetic detergents), which produce electrically negative colloidal ions in solution. Cationic detergents, which produce electrically positive ions in solution. Nonionic detergents, which produce electrically neutral colloidal particles in solution.

What would happen if oil droplets and dirt particles did not become suspended in detergent solution?

If detached oil droplets and dirt particles did not become suspended in the detergent solution in a stable and highly dispersed condition, they would be inclined to flocculate, or coalesce into aggregates large enough to be redeposited on the cleansed surface.

What is the process of cleaning a soiled surface?

The seemingly simple process of cleaning a soiled surface is, in fact, complex and consists of the following physical-chemical steps: Bars of soap. Wetting of the surface and, in the case of textiles, penetration of the fibre structure by wash liquor containing the detergent.

How is soil dispersed in soap?

This step is facilitatedby mechanical agitation and high temperature; in the case of hand soap, soil is dispersed in the foam formed by mechanical action of the hands.

What is laundry detergent composition?

A Laundry detergent composition is a formulated mixture of raw materials that can be classified into different types based on their properties and function in the final product.

Can laundry detergent be metered?

Nowadays laundry detergents are becoming increasingly popular as they can be metered automatically into the washing machine, impart softness, antistaticness, resiliency to fabrics, mild to eyes and skins and shows good dispersibility in water.

Is laundry detergent a solid or powder?

Laundry detergent has traditionally been a powdered or granular solid, but the use of liquid laundry detergents has gradually increased over the years, and these days use of liquid detergent equals or even exceeds use of solid detergent.

What is a detergent?

Detergents are primarily surfactants, which could be produced easily from petrochemicals. Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, essentially making it 'wetter' so that it is less likely to stick to itself and more likely to interact with oil and grease.

What are the two elements that are used in detergents?

Alkalis: Sodium and potassium hydroxide are used in detergents even as they are used in soapmaking. They provide positively charged ions to promote chemical reactions. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Understanding How Detergents and Surfactants Work and Clean.".

Why are detergents and surfactants used for cleaning?

Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Detergents and soaps are used for cleaning because pure water can't remove oily, organic soiling.

Why is soap used for cleaning?

Detergents and soaps are used for cleaning because pure water can't remove oily, organic soiling. Soap cleans by acting as an emulsifier. Basically, soap allows oil and water to mix so that oily grime can be removed during rinsing.

What are the two substances that are used to make surfactants?

Oxidizers: Sulfur trioxide, ethylene oxide, and sulfuric acid are among the molecules used to produce the hydrophilic component of surfactants. Oxidizers provide an energy source for chemical reactions. These highly reactive compounds also act as bleaches.

Does soap or detergent pull dirt away?

Neither detergents nor soaps accomplish anything except binding to the soil until some mechanical energy or agitation is added into the equation. Swishing the soapy water around allows the soap or detergent to pull the grime away from clothes or dishes and into the larger pool of rinse water. Rinsing washes the detergent and soil away.

Do detergents contain surfactants?

Modern detergents contain more than surfactants. Cleaning products may also contain enzymes to degrade protein-based stains, bleaches to de-color stains and add power to cleaning agents, and blue dyes to counter yellowing.

Overview

Structure and properties

Detergents are a group of compounds with an amphiphilic structure, where each molecule has a hydrophilic (polar) head and a long hydrophobic (non-polar) tail. The hydrophobic portion of these molecules may be straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbons, or it may have a steroid structure. The hydrophilic portion is more varied, they may be ionic or non-ionic, and can range from a simple or a relatively elaborate structure. Detergents are surfactants since they can decrease the surface t…

Definitions

Chemical classifications of detergents

History

Major applications of detergents

See also

External links