Question

To find the foaming capacity of a soap when the length of foam produced should be measured

Answer 1

Soap samples of various brands are taken and their foaming capacity is noticed. Various soap samples are taken separately and their foaming capacity is observed. The soap with the maximum foaming capacity is thus, said to be having the best cleaning capacity. The test requires to be done with distilled water as well as with tap water. The test of soap on distilled water gives the actual strength of the soaps cleaning capacity. The second test with tap water tests the effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+ salts on their foaming capacities. Objective: To compare the foaming capacity of various soaps. Theory: The foaming capacity of soap depends upon the nature of the soap and its concentration. This may be compared by shaking equal volumes of solutions of different samples having the same concentration with same force for the same amount of time. The solutions are then allowed to stand when the foam produced during shaking disappears gradually. The time taken for the foam to disappear in each sample is determined. The longer the time taken for the disappearance of the foam for the given sample of soap, greater is its foaming capacity or cleansing action. Requirements: Five 100ml conical flasks, five test tubes, 100ml measuring cylinder, test tube stand, weighing machine, stop watch. Chemical Requirements: Five different soap samples, distilled water, tap water. Procedure: 1. Take five 100ml conical flasks and number them 1, 2,3,4,5. Put 16ml of water in each flask and add 8 Gms of soap. 2. Warm the contents to get a solution. 3. Take five test tubes; add 1ml of soap solution to 3ml of water. Repeat the process for each soap solution in different test tubes. 4. Close the mouth of the test tube and shake vigorously for a minute. Do the same for all test tubes and with equal force. 5. Start the timer immediately and notice the rate of disappearance of 2mm of froth. Observations: The following outcomes were noticed at the end of the experiment

Result The cleansing capacity of the soaps taken is in the order: Santoor > Dove > Cinthol > Tetmosol > Lux From this experiment, we can infer that Santoor has the highest foaming capacity, in other words, highest cleaning capacity. Lux, on the other hand is found to have taken the least amount of time for the disappearance of foam produced and thus is said to be having the least foaming capacity and cleansing capacity. Test for hardness in water Test for Ca2+ and Mg2+ salts in the water supplied Test for Ca2+ in water H2O +NH4Cl + NH4OH + (NH4)2CO3 No precipitate Test for Mg2+ in water H2O +NH4Cl + NH4OH + (NH4)3PO4 No precipitate The tests show negative results for the presence of the salts causing hardness in water. The water used does not contain salts of Ca2+ and Mg2+. The tap water provided is soft and thus, the experimental results and values hold good for distilled water and tap water. BIBLIOGRAPHY Parts of this project have been referred from foreign sources and have been included in this investigatory project after editing.