Soaps Definition
Soap is a compound made by combining Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide with vegetable oil or animal fats in a saponification reaction. Soaps are potassium or sodium salts of fatty acids with a long carbon chain. Soaps are naturally water-soluble.
A soap molecule is made up of two components. These two components are referred to as:
- Hydrophobic tail: This part of the soap is water-repellent in nature and dissolves in oils. It is ionic in nature.
- Hydrophilic head: This part of the soap molecule is water attractive or water-loving and dissolves in water. It is made up of a long chain of hydrocarbons.
Properties of Soap
Soap of have various properties that differentiate them from detergents. Some of the properties of the soap are,
- Soaps are large chain aliphatic compounds. They are formed by reacting Potassium or Sodium salts with fatty acids
- Soaps are prepared using a reaction called saponification.
- Soaps are the substances that reduces the surface tension of the liquid in which they are dissolved.
- A soap molecule has two parts a Hydrophobic tail and a Hydrophilic head.
Difference Between Soap and Detergent
Soaps and Detergents are cleaning agents that are used to remove dirt and other undesirable particles from the human body, its clothes, and other surfaces. Both soap and detergents are used for cleaning action but there are quite differences between them, and the differences between them if discussed in the article. In general, soap is the sodium or potassium salt of fatty acids while detergents are long-chain carboxylic acid quaternary ammonium or sulfonate salts.
In this article, we will learn about Soap, Detergents and their properties, their differences, and others in detail.
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