Soap and detergent, substances that, when dissolved in water, possess the ability to remove dirt from surfaces such as human skin, textiles, and other solids. The seemingly simple process of cleaning a soiled surface is, in fact, complex. Learn more about soap and detergent in this article.

Soap molecules have on one end what’s known as a polar salt, which is hydrophilic, or attracted to water. The other end of the molecule is a nonpolar chain of fatty acids or hydrocarbons, which is hydrophobic—meaning that it’s repelled by water but …

Soap can easily be made at home by boiling water with animal fat or vegetable oils and wood ash. As the water boils, the fat molecules are broken down into fatty acids.

These materials give increased detergent action. The most important are sodium silicate (water glass), sodium carbonate (soda ash), and various phosphates; the latter have contributed to the problem of wastewater pollution by contributing nutrients that sustain undesirable algae and bacteria growth, and much work has been done to find

When a soap is dissolved in water, fatty acids in the soap form spherical structures called micelles, in which the hydrophilic “heads” of the fatty acid molecules are turned toward the water and the hydrophobic “tails” are sheltered in the interior.

Water softening, the process of removing the dissolved calcium and magnesium salts that cause hardness in water. Softened water does not form insoluble scale or precipitates in pipes and tanks or interfere with cleaners such as soap. It is thus indispensable in many industries and is common in homes with hard water.

Soap Lake, southernmost in a string of lakes in the Grand Coulee valley, central Washington state, U.S. Volcanic in origin, its water is rich in minerals and salts and is regarded as having medicinal properties.

Soap and water make even the filthiest hands sparkling clean. But how does soap go about its dirty business? As many as 4,000 years ago the Sumerian people were already making soap from potash and oils. So soap production has a long tradition and the basic ingredients and methods have barely changed over the course of time.

East Asians have the highest incidence of this variation, with some studies showing that nearly 20% of the population experiences soapy-tasting cilantro. There is some evidence that cilantrophobes can overcome their aversion with repeated exposure to the herb, especially if it is crushed rather than served whole, but many people simply choose ...

The continuous hydrolyzer process begins with natural fat that is split into fatty acids and glycerin by means of water at high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst, zinc soap.