Detergents

Question 1

How do detergents work?

Answer 1

• Remove fat and oil from clothes
• Hydrophilic head remains in water and forms strong intermolecular bonds while hydrophobic tail forms strong intermolecular bonds with the grease stain
• The grease stain is then lifted off the cloth

Question 2

How does dry cleaning work?

Answer 2

• Molecules of grease form intermolecular bonds with other molecules of grease
• Molecules of organic solvent form intermolecular bonds with other molecules of organic solvent
• Molecules of solvent form intermolecular bonds with molecules of grease
• Water does not bond with any of these because it has strong bonds with other water molecules