What is a detergent molecule?

What is a detergent molecule?

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.

What molecules are in laundry detergent?

Most modern detergents are a class of chemicals called linear alkylbenzonesulfates, which are made of long chains of a chemical called a dodecane, composed of long chains of Carbon and Hydrogen. This chemical readily forms long chain molecules, quite similar to petrochemicals like oil.

What is the chemical formula of detergent?

C17H35COONa or sodium stearate is the chemical formula for soap, while the chemical formula of detergent is C18H29NaO3S. A synthetic detergent is any synthetic substance other than soap that is an effective cleanser and functions equally well as a surface-active agent in hard or soft water.

How does detergent work in molecular terms?

Detergent and Soap Soap and detergent molecules have two ends which act as a bridge between water molecules and grease (fat) molecules. This allows the soap or detergent to grab onto the grease from a dirty dish and use the other end of the detergent molecule to latch on to water to be washed away.

What is the function of detergent?

Detergent is a substance that’s used for cleaning. Detergent is similar to soap, but it’s stronger and dissolves more completely in water. Detergents are special, powerful cleansers that can break up dirt, oils, and grease in clothing or on dishes.

What are two main parts make up a detergent molecule?

Detergent molecular structures consist of a long hydrocarbon chain and a water soluble ionic group.

What is the molecular structure of soap?

Soap molecules are composed of long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. At one end of the chain is a configuration of atoms which likes to be in water (hydrophilic). The other end shuns water (hydrophobic) but attaches easily to grease.

What is the chemical properties of detergent?

A detergent is a sodium salt of long-chain benzene sulphonic acid or sodium salt of long-chain alkyl hydrogen sulfate, which has cleansing properties in water. Like soaps, they contain anionic groups such as sulphonate groups or sulphate groups and long-chain hydrocarbon, a non-ionic group.

How does a detergent work?

The head of the molecule is attracted to water (hydrophilic) and the tail is attracted to grease and dirt (hydrophobic). When the detergent molecules meet grease on clothes, the tails are drawn into the grease but the heads still sit in the water.

What is detergent and its uses?

Detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with cleansing properties when in dilute solutions. However, conventionally, detergent is used to mean synthetic cleaning compounds as opposed to soap (a salt of the natural fatty acid), even though soap is also a detergent in the true sense.

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 does detergent contain?

Components. Laundry detergents may contain builders (50% by weight, approximately), surfactants (15%), bleach (7%), enzymes (2%), soil antideposition agents, foam regulators, corrosion inhibitors, optical brighteners, dye transfer inhibitors, fragrances, dyes, fillers and formulation aids.

How is detergent formed?

During the preparation of detergents, a long- chain hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum fractions is converted into an organic acid through a series of steps. The organic acid is then neutralised with sodium hydroxide solution to produce a neutral salt which is a detergent.

What is the difference between soap and detergent?

Soaps are made from natural ingredients, such as plant oils (coconut, vegetable, palm, pine) or acids derived from animal fat. Detergents, on the other hand, are synthetic, man-made derivatives.

Is detergent polar or nonpolar?

Both Soap and detergents are composed of long non-polar hydrocarbon molecules with a polar or ionic end, thus they combine both polar and non-polar characteristics in the same molecule.

What pH is detergent?

Detergents are a group of surfactants that speed up the cleaning process of clothes and dishes. They’re amphiphilic and water-soluble. Detergents have a pH between 10 to 14. Hence, they’re bases.

What makes detergent basic?

The first soap and detergent makers used plant ashes to produce alkalis. Today they are chemically produced by running electricity through salt water to produce sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or caustic soda and potassium hydroxide (KOH) or caustic potash. These are the most commonly used alkalies in soaps and detergents.

Is detergent a compound?

Soaps and Detergents are chemical compound or mixture of compounds used as a cleansing agent.