Question

What are detergents chemically ? List two merits and demerits of it

Answer 1

Detergents are ammonium or sulphonate salts of long chain carboxyolic acids.
Merits:-
1) Only a little amount of detergent is required for cleaning even in hard water.
2)Better cleansing capacity than soaps.

Demerits:-
1)Detergents are very harsh on skins.
2)Also detergents are non biodegradable and not eco-friendly.

Answer 2

A detergent is a surfactant or a combination of surfactants with cleaning properties in a dilute solution. These substances are generally alkylbenzenesulphonates, a family of compounds similar to soap but with better cleaning properties, as they are soluble even in hard water. Major applications of detergents is in the households, laundries, as fuel additives and as biological reagents. In our homes, we use detergents for washing our utensils, dishes and clothes.

As calcium and magnesium salts are present in detergents, they function as dirt removers, as dirt particles cling to them during washing activity. Washing clothes with hard water is eased as these ions help in softening it.

But, these ions also have a tendency of weakening the fabric and affecting the colour of the clothing.