Detergents

-Detergents are synthetic

cleansing agents made from
hydrocarbon made from
petroleum fractions.
Thus,detergents are
petrochemicals.

There are 3 main types of

detergent, depending on the
charge on detergent ion:A. Anionic detergents where the head
of the detergent particle contains a
negatively-charged ion.
Example: (R represents a long
hydrocarbon chain)

R O SO Na

Negative
lycharged
(sodium alkyl sulphate)
ion
3

B. Cationic detergents
Cationic detergents where the head
of the detergent particle contains a
positively-charged ion.
Example:

R N (CH ) Br

3 3

Positivel
ycharged
ion

C. Non-ionic detergents
Example:

R O CH CH OH
2

Anionic detergents divide into 2

types
1) Detergent molecule with a
benzene ring such as sodium
alkylbenzene sulphonate.

2) Detergent molecule without a

benzene ring such as sodium
alkyl sulphate.

ROSO

Preparation of detergents
(Preparation of sodium alkyl benzene
sulphonate)
3 steps
1) Alkylation

CH (CH ) CH CH
benzene
3

2 n

Ralkylbenzene

(
CH
)
CH
R=
3

2) Sulphonation of
alkylbenzene

sSulphuric
acid

3) Neutralisation

Sodium
hydroxid
e

(Preparation of sodium alkyl

sulphate)
1) Sulphonation of
alcohol

2
Step
s
Wate
r

Long chain
alcohol with
12 to 18

Sulphuric
acid

Alkyl sulphonic
acid

2) Neutralisation
Wate
r

Alkyl sulphonic
acid

Sodium
hydroxide

Sodium alkyl
sulphate

The structure of detergent molecule

The cleansing action of soap

and detergent

1. Soap or detergent reduces the

surface tension of water.
2. This increase the wetting ability of
water.
3. So, the surface of cloth is wetted

1. The hydrophobic part of the soap

anion dissolves in the grease.
2. The hydrophilic part attracted to
the water molecules.

Scrubbing helps pull the

grease free from cloth
surface

1. Grease is removed from the cloth

surface as tiny oil droplets.
2. Tiny oil droplets with negative
charge repel each other.
3. This prevent them from redeposit
on the surface.