Soap Experiment
Abstract An experiment is conducted to prepare soap and thus, to compare the properties of the prepared soap and synthetic detergents which are precipitation, emulsification and cleaning abilities. It can be concluded that soap has the properties if emulsifying oil whereas detergent has not. The abilities of forming precipitates can be seen clearly in soap solution whereas detergent forms no precipitates at all. The experiment is completed and successfully conducted.
Introduction Detergents and soaps are used for cleaning because pure water can 't remove oily, organic soiling. Soap cleans by acting as an emulsifier. Basically, soap allows oil and water to mix so that oily grime can be removed during rinsing. Detergents were developed in response to the shortage of the animal and vegetable fats used to make soap during World War I and World War II. Detergents are primarily surfactants, which could be produced easily from petrochemicals. Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, essentially making it 'wetter ' so that it is less likely to stick to itself and more likely to interact with oil and grease.
Soaps are sodium or potassium fatty acids salts, produced from the hydrolysis of fats in a chemical reaction called saponification. Each soap molecule has a long hydrocarbon chain, sometimes called its 'tail ', with a carboxylate 'head '. In water, the sodium or potassium ions float free, leaving a negatively-charged head. Soap is an excellent cleanser because of its ability to act as an emulsifying agent. An emulsifier is capable of dispersing one liquid into another immiscible liquid. This means that while oil (which attracts dirt) doesn 't naturally mix with water, soap can suspend oil/dirt in such a way that it can be removed. The organic part of a natural soap is a negatively-charged, polar molecule. Its hydrophilic (water-loving) carboxylate group (-CO2) interacts with water molecules via
Introduction Detergents and soaps are used for cleaning because pure water can 't remove oily, organic soiling. Soap cleans by acting as an emulsifier. Basically, soap allows oil and water to mix so that oily grime can be removed during rinsing. Detergents were developed in response to the shortage of the animal and vegetable fats used to make soap during World War I and World War II. Detergents are primarily surfactants, which could be produced easily from petrochemicals. Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, essentially making it 'wetter ' so that it is less likely to stick to itself and more likely to interact with oil and grease.
Soaps are sodium or potassium fatty acids salts, produced from the hydrolysis of fats in a chemical reaction called saponification. Each soap molecule has a long hydrocarbon chain, sometimes called its 'tail ', with a carboxylate 'head '. In water, the sodium or potassium ions float free, leaving a negatively-charged head. Soap is an excellent cleanser because of its ability to act as an emulsifying agent. An emulsifier is capable of dispersing one liquid into another immiscible liquid. This means that while oil (which attracts dirt) doesn 't naturally mix with water, soap can suspend oil/dirt in such a way that it can be removed. The organic part of a natural soap is a negatively-charged, polar molecule. Its hydrophilic (water-loving) carboxylate group (-CO2) interacts with water molecules via
References: Geek3112. "Soap and Detergent Experiment." Scribd. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.scribd.com/doc/39166244/Soap-and-Detergent-Experiment>. "LABS 12 Soaps vs. Detergents." LABS 12 Soaps vs. Detergents. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://chemmovies.unl.edu/chemistry/labs/LABS12.html>. "Making Soaps and Detergents." Nuffield Foundation |. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-chemistry/making-soaps-and-detergents>. "Soap and Detergent (chemical Compound) : Introduction." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/550751/soap-and-detergent>. "Soap and Saponification - Chemistry." Soap and Saponification - Chemistry. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/blsapon.htm>. "Soap Lab." Soap Lab. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://course1.winona.edu/jfranz/Lab/soaplab.htm>. Appendices Figure 1: synthetic detergent when added with (from left) Ferum (II) chloride,Magnesium (II) chloride, and Calcium (II) chloride Figure 2: soap when added with (from left) Ferum (II) chloride, Magnesium (II) chloride, and Calcium (II) chloride Figure 3: observation on cleanliness of cloth strip (from left) tape water, detergent, soap