(a) What is a soap? Why are soaps not suitable for washing clothes when the water is hard? (b) Explain the action of soap in removing an oily spot from a piece of cloth.
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a) A soap can be defined as a sodium or potassium salt ofhigher fatty acids such as oleic acid (C17H33COOH), stearic acid (C17H35COOH), palimitic acid (C15H31COOH), etc. Soap does not work properly when the water is hard. A soap is a sodium or potassium salt of long chain fatty acids. Hard water contains salts of calcium and magnesium. When soap is added to hard water, calcium and magnesium ions present in water displace sodium or potassium ions from the soap molecules forming an insoluble substance called scuum. A lot of soap is wasted in the process.
(b) Cleansing action of soaps: The oily spot present on clothes is organic in nature and insoluble in water. Therefore, it cannot be removed by only washing with water. When soap is dissolved in water, its hydrophobic ends attach themselves to the oily spot and remove it from the cloth. Then, the molecules of soap arrange themselves in the form of micelle and trap the dirt at the centre of the cluster. These micelles remain suspended in the water. Hence, the oily spots are easily rinsed away by water.
(b) Cleansing action of soaps: The oily spot present on clothes is organic in nature and insoluble in water. Therefore, it cannot be removed by only washing with water. When soap is dissolved in water, its hydrophobic ends attach themselves to the oily spot and remove it from the cloth. Then, the molecules of soap arrange themselves in the form of micelle and trap the dirt at the centre of the cluster. These micelles remain suspended in the water. Hence, the oily spots are easily rinsed away by water.
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Answer:
Soap is a base ......
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