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Chemistry

State what are synthetic detergents. Explain experimentally how you will determine the advantage of synthetic detergents over soap using a sample of hard water.

Water

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Answer

Synthetic detergents are sodium salts of sulphonic acid and their calcium and magnesium salts are soluble in hard water and do not form scum. Hence, synthetic detergents when rubbed in hard water lather easily and hence have an advantage over ordinary soap.

In order to study the advantage of synthetic detergents over soap experimentally, a sample of water is divided into two parts.

A synthetic soap is added to the first sample of hard water and rubbed slowly with the hand.

An ordinary soap is then added to the second sample of water and rubbed similarly.

Result : The sample of hard water lathers with a synthetic detergent but not with an ordinary soap.

Reason for the observation:

Ca(HCO3)2In hard water+2NaStSoapCa(St)2Scum+2NaHCO3\underset{\text{In hard water}}{\text{Ca(HCO}3)2} + \underset{\text{Soap}}{2\text{NaSt}} \longrightarrow \underset{\text{Scum}}{\text{Ca(St)}2↓} + 2\text{NaHCO}3

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