What are detergents are chemically? List two merits and two demerits of using detergents for cleansing. State the reason for the suitability of detergents for washing,even when in the case of water having calcium and magnesium ions.
Answers
Explanation:
Detergents is the sodium salt of a long chain Benzene Suplhonic acid which has cleansing properties in water.
A detergent has a large non ionic hydrocarbon group and an ionic group like sulphonate group, SO³⁻ Na⁺.
Examples of detergents are :
Sodium n-dodecyl benzene sulphonate and sodium n-dodecyl sulphate
Cleansing action of detergent is same as soap.
Merits of using Detergent :
1. detergents can be used even with hard water where as soaps are not suitable for use with hard water.
2. Detergents have stronger cleansing action than soaps.
3. detergents are more soluble in water than soaps.
Demerits of using Detergents:
1. Detergents are not biodegradable that is they cannot be composed by micro organisms like bacteria
2. Detergents causes water pollution .
Reason for the having calcium and magnesium ions :
Detergents react with with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions in hard water forming soluble compounds. lather is formed easily and cleansing action is efficient.
Answer:
Detergents are long chain sodium or potassium salt of sulphonic acid or Ammonium or bromide salt. It can be used to clean clothes in hard water and forms lather without scum. These are two merits. It causes water pollution and also creates some dangerous chemicals. These are two demerits. When we washed clothes in hard water having sodium and magnesium ions, the charged ends don't allow to form scum.
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