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Difference between Soaps and Detergents
Difference between Soaps and Detergents
| Soaps |
Detergents |
| Soaps are sodium salts of long chain fatty acids |
Detergents are sodium salts of sulfonic acids. |
| The ionic part of a soap is -COO- Na+ |
The ionic part in a detergent is -SO3 – Na+ |
| They are biodegradable |
Some detergents are not biodegradable. |
| They are prepared from animal fats or vegetable oils. |
They are prepared from hydrocarbons obtained from coal and petroleum. |
| Soaps form insoluble salts called scums with calcium and magnesium ions which are present in hard water and hence cannot be used in hard water. |
Calcium and magnesium salts of detergents are soluble in water and therefore can be used even in hard water. |
Originally written on
May 22, 2013
and last modified on
April 6, 2021.
Tags: Tables
