Question

What is a detergents? How is it a better cleansing agent

Answer 1

Detergents

A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with cleaning properties in dilute solutions.[1] These substances are usually alkylbenzenesulfonates, a family of compounds that are similar to soap but are more soluble in hard water, because the polar sulfonate (of detergents) is less likely than the polar carboxylate (of soap) to bind to calcium and other ions found in hard water.

Detergents are the better cleansing agents than soaps because detergents work as cleansing agent both in hard and soft water. Soaps are not suitable for use with hard water .The charged ends of detergents do not form insoluble precipitates with calcium and magnesium ions in hard water.

Answer 2

(1)Detergents are better cleansing agent than soaps because they do not form insoluble calcium and magnesium salts with hard water, and hence can be used for washing even with hard water.

(2)Detergent is sodium salt of long chain benzene sulphoric acid or long chain alkyl hydrosulphates. .

(3)Cleansing action of detergent is similar to that of soap.

(4) some detergents are not biodegradable.

Hope it helped u ....!!