Why do soaps not work in hard water?
(N/A) Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids. Hard water contains calcium $(Ca^{2+})$ and magnesium $(Mg^{2+})$ ions. When soaps are dissolved in hard water,these ions displace sodium or potassium from their salts and form insoluble calcium or magnesium salts of fatty acids. These insoluble salts separate as scum.
$2C_{17}H_{35}COONa + CaCl_2 \to (C_{17}H_{35}COO)_2Ca + 2NaCl$
This is the reason why soaps do not work in hard water.
$2C_{17}H_{35}COONa + CaCl_2 \to (C_{17}H_{35}COO)_2Ca + 2NaCl$
This is the reason why soaps do not work in hard water.
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Similar Questions
Match the soaps given in Column $-I$ with items given in Column $-II$.
Column $-I$ Column $-II$ $A$. Soap chips $1$. Dried miniature soap bubbles $B$. Soap granules $2$. Small broken pieces of soap formed from melted soaps $C$. Soap powder $3$. Soap powder $+$ abrasives $+$ builders $(Na_2CO_3, Na_3PO_4)$ $D$. Scouring Soap $4$. Soap powder $+$ builders like $Na_2CO_3$ and $Na_3PO_4$
| Column $-I$ | Column $-II$ |
| $A$. Soap chips | $1$. Dried miniature soap bubbles |
| $B$. Soap granules | $2$. Small broken pieces of soap formed from melted soaps |
| $C$. Soap powder | $3$. Soap powder $+$ abrasives $+$ builders $(Na_2CO_3, Na_3PO_4)$ |
| $D$. Scouring Soap | $4$. Soap powder $+$ builders like $Na_2CO_3$ and $Na_3PO_4$ |
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View SolutionSoap is a/an ...... .
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View SolutionWhich cleansing agent gets precipitated in hard water?
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View SolutionWhich one of the following will improve the lathering property of soap?
Explain about soaps in detail.
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