How are soaps and detergents different?
Table : Difference between soaps and detergents
| Soaps | Detergents |
| 1. They are sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids | 1. They are sodium or potassium salts of sulphonic acids. |
| 2. They have –COONa group | 2. They have –SO3Na group |
| 3. They do not work well with hard water, acidic water and saline water | 3. They work well with hard water, acidic water and saline water. |
| 4. They are fully biodegradable | 4. Some detergents having branched hydrocarbon chain are non biodegradable |
| 5. They do not work well with woolen garments. | 5. They work well with woolen garments |
| 6.It may cause irritation to skin | 6. They do not cause irritation to skin |
| 7.They take time to dissolve in water | 7. They dissolve faster in water |
| 8. Example : Sodium stearate, Sodium palmitate | 8. Examples : Sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate. |
The comparison between a soap and a detergent is given in Table.
| Cleaning agent | Soap | Detergent |
| Effectiveness | Soaps are effective cleaners in soft water. | Detergents are effective cleaners in both hard and soft water. |
| Formation of scum | Soaps form scum in hard water. | Detergents do not form scum in hard water. |
| Sources | Soaps are made from natural resources (animal fats or vegetable oils). | Detergents are made from synthetic resources such as petroleum fractions. |
| Formation of precipitate | Soaps form precipitate in acidic water. | Detergents do not form precipitate in acidic water. |
| Effect on the environment | Soaps are biodegradable and do not cause any pollution. | Non-biodegradable detergents give thick foams that kill aquatic lives. |
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