How do you clean your floor and kitchen?
How do you wash your dirty clothes?
No doubt, detergent is used.
What is detergent?
Detergent is a substance used to enhance the cleansing action of water. It acts similarly to soap but it is made from chemical compounds rather than fat and lye. Detergent is a surfactant (substance that reduces surface tension) which used to dislodge dirt from soiled surface and retain it in suspension, allowing it to be rinsed away. Water cannot clean clothes alone because it won't attach to molecules of dirt or grease. But, detergent molecules have a hydrocarbon portion (hydrophobic tail), soluble in oil; and an ionic portion (hydrophilic head), soluble in water.
It also acts as an emulsifier, by bridging the water and oil phases, it breaks the oil into tiny droplets suspended in water. The disruption of the oil film allows the dirt particles to become more soluble. Detergents can be in any form such as liquid, powder, paste, bar, cake, shaped and etc.
It can be used for household, institutional or industrial purposes as it is effective in both soft and hard water. Functions of detergents are washing or cleaning laundry, fabrics, dishes or kitchen utensils, as well as hard surfaces.
It also acts as an emulsifier, by bridging the water and oil phases, it breaks the oil into tiny droplets suspended in water. The disruption of the oil film allows the dirt particles to become more soluble. Detergents can be in any form such as liquid, powder, paste, bar, cake, shaped and etc.
It can be used for household, institutional or industrial purposes as it is effective in both soft and hard water. Functions of detergents are washing or cleaning laundry, fabrics, dishes or kitchen utensils, as well as hard surfaces.So, how does detergent work?
Firstly, during the wash cycle of the washing machine, the surfactant mixes with water.
Secondly, the grease-loving ends (hydrophobic tails) of the surfactant molecules start to attach themselves to the dirt on the clothes. Subsequently, the dirt and grease are broken into smaller and easier-to-remove pieces by the tumbling motion.
After that, water molecules move past and attach themselves to the water-loving end (hydrophilic heads) of the surfactant molecules during the rinse cycle.
At last, the water molecules pull the surfactant and dirt away from the fabrics. The dirty water flushes away during the final spin.
Secondly, the grease-loving ends (hydrophobic tails) of the surfactant molecules start to attach themselves to the dirt on the clothes. Subsequently, the dirt and grease are broken into smaller and easier-to-remove pieces by the tumbling motion.
After that, water molecules move past and attach themselves to the water-loving end (hydrophilic heads) of the surfactant molecules during the rinse cycle.
At last, the water molecules pull the surfactant and dirt away from the fabrics. The dirty water flushes away during the final spin.
Finally, we get our clean clothes again!
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