SOAP / DETERGENT and EMULSION Flashcards
How are soap made?
By hydrolysis of fats or oil, using an alkalis instead of water
What happens during ester hydrolysis of fats using an alkali
Ester (the fats) form:
- glycerol +
- Salt = SOAP (carboxylic acid/fatty acids produce are neutreulised by the alkali to form a salt which is soap)
what is the structure of soap?
non polar tail (hydrophobic) and
polar head (hydrophilic)
What structure make soap good at their job?
Soap have a non-polar tails which is soluble in oil and grease and
a polar head which is water soluble
Explain in detail how soap work.
Which part of a soap is soluble in water?
The head
Which part of a soap molecule is soluble in oil / grease?
The hydrocarbon tail
What do we mean by hard water?
Water that contain metal ions such as Calcium and Magnesium
What is the problem of using soap in hard water?
Production of scum, a white precipitate
What could be use in stead of soap in area with hard water?
Detergent (won’t produce scum)
Why soap form scum with hard water?
Calcium or magnesium from the water react with the soap molecule and form a non-soluble product = white precipitate = scum
Why detergent do not produce scum?
Detergent have a different head than soap, and when these detergent molecules react with calcium or magnesium, they form a soluble compound.
What is an emulsion?
a liquid which contains small droplets of another liquid.
could be dropplet of oil in vinegar (mayonnaise)
What is the role of an emulsifier?
It helps to bring two insoluble substance together (like oil and water)
What does emulsifier looks like
They looks like a fats or oil but with only 1 or 2 fatty acids and 1 or 2 hydroxyl group.
If one fatty acids attached (one ester link) they are called monoglyceride
If two fatty acids attached, they are called diglyceride
