What effect of hard water on soap

Effect of hard water on soap Hand water contains calcium and magnesium ions (Cat and Me) that limit the cleaning action of soup. When combined with soap, hard water develops a thin layer (precipitates of the metal ions) called scum, which leaves a deposit on the clothes or skin and does not easily rinse away. Over time, this can lead to the deterioration of the fabric and eventually ruin the clothes. On the other hand, detergents are made with chemicals that are not affected by hard water. Why ordinary soap is nor  for using with hard water?when treated with hard water, precipitate as salts of calcium and magnesium. They appear at the surface of the cloth as sticky. Thus, the soaps cannot be used conveniently in hard water. Development of synthetic detergents is a big achievement in the field of cleansing of some Ty acids. Soaps possess the desirable properties of ordinary soups and also can be used with hard water and in acidic solutions. These are salts of acids or alkyl hydrogen in comparison to snap, which are salts of carboxylic acids The detergents do not form precipitates with Ca and Me present in hard water. So, the cleansing action of detergents is better than that of soaps Preparation of detergents. Detergents are prepared by adding acid to the processed hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum. This chemical reaction result in the formation of molecules similar to the fatty acid in soap. Then, an alkali is added to the mixture to produce the surfactant molecules, which do not bond with the minerals present in the hard water, thus preventing the formation of their precipitates In addition to a surfactant, the modern detergent contains several other ingredients. They are listed as follows i) Sodium silicate, which prevents the corrosion and ensures that the detergent does not damage the washing machine. ii) Fluorescent whitening agents that give a glow to the clothes ii) Oxygen bleaches, such as sodium. Removal of certain stains from the cloth. iv) Sodium is added to prevent the caking of the detergent powder. v) Enzymes are added to break down some stains caused by biological substances like blood and vegetable juice vi) Certain chemicals that give out a pleasant smell are also added to make the clothes after they are washed with detergents. It is hydrophilic (Water loving) and this end is attracted towards water. The non-polar end is hydrophobic (Water hating) in nature it is attracted towards dirt or oil on the cloth, but not attracted towards water. Thus, the hydrophobic part of the soap molecule traps the dirt and the hydrophilic part makes the entire molecule soluble in water. When a soap or detergent is dissolved in water, the molecules join together as clusters called micelles'. Their long hydrocarbon chains attach themselves to the oil and dirt. The dirt is thus surrounded by the non-polar end of the soap molecules. The end of the soap molecules makes the micelles soluble in water. Thus, the dirt is washed away with the soap.