SOAP ? easily describe as salt of a fatty acid ( eg.glycerol )

Soaps for cleansing are obtained by treating vegetable or animal oils and fats with a strongly alkaline solution. Fats and oils are composed of triglycerides --> three molecules of fatty acids attached to a single molecule of glycerol .The alkaline solution, often called LYE, brings about a chemical reaction known as saponification. In saponification , the fats are first hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which then combine with the alkali to form crude soap . Glycerol , often called glycerine, is liberated and is either left in or washed out and recovered as a useful by-product according to the process employed .

< Two equivalent images of the chemical structure of sodium stearate, a typical soap >


< example of sOap # >


DETERGENT ? surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with cleaning properties in dilute solutions . 


family of compounds that are similar to soap but are less affected by hard water ( high mineral content ) . In most household contexts, the term detergent by itself refers specifically to laundry detergent and dish detergent , as opposed to hand soap or other types of cleaning agents. Detergents are commonly available as powders or concentrated solutions. Detergents work because they are amphiphilic -> partly hydrophilic (polar) and partly hydrophobic (non-polar). Their dual nature facilitates the mixture of hydrophobic compounds ( like oil and grease ) with water. Because air is not hydrophillic , detergents are also foaming agents to varying degrees. Completely non-polar solvents known as degreasers can also remove hydrophobic contaminants but may not dissolve in water because of a lack of polar elements.





< example of detergent # >