Question

Detergents are better than soaps because:
A. they wash clothes better
B. they absorb the hardness of water
C. they are less affected by hard water
D. they are less soap

Answer 1

The soap is the potassium or sodium salt of a carboxylic acid which contains a long aliphatic chain which gives leather with soft water. The detergents are the potassium or sodium salt containing alkyl chains where the sulfonate group is present at the end of the chain. The detergent dissolves in both soft water and hard water.

Complete step by step answer:
Soaps are referred to as the potassium or sodium salt of a carboxylic acid which has a long aliphatic chain joined with it. They are used as the surfactant compounds which helps to reduce the surface tension between the liquid and the substance and because of this property soaps it helps in the emulsification of oils in water. Soaps are formed by the saponification reaction of fats and oils. In soap molecules, two ends are present one is a hydrophilic end whereas the other is a hydrophobic end. In soap the carboxylate end of the soap molecule is hydrophilic in nature and the hydrocarbon tail is hydrophobic in nature. Soaps generally give leather with soft water. Soaps are not soluble in hard water.
Detergents are referred to as the potassium and sodium salt of the long alkyl chain. The alkyl chain ends with the sulfonate group. Detergents are basically soluble in hard water. The solubility of the detergent in the hard water is based on the fact that the sulfonate group does not attach itself to the ions present in the hard water. Thus, the detergents are less affected by the hard water.
Therefore, the correct option is C.

Note:
As detergents contain branched hydrocarbon chains in its structure, the detergents are non-biodegradable in nature. As compared to soaps, the detergent has a high cleaning action.