In fact, it is called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. One can visualize how this works if you think of your own clothes washing machine.
Think about what would happen if you were to add a cup of detergent to your washer and wash a load of clothes with no other water added. Your clothes certainly would not come out clean! Water is necessary for the laundry detergent to work properly. Water also aids in the suspension and anti-redeposition of soils.
Once the soil has been dissolved and emulsified away from the surface, we want to prevent it from being redeposited. Water keeps the soil suspended away from the clean surface so that it can be carried away easily during the rinsing process. It is clear that without water, our cleaning formulas would be much less effective.
In addition to water, other chemical solvents are often added to cleaners to boost performance. Compounds such as 2-Butoxyethanol butyl , isopropyl alcohol rubbing alcohol and d-Limonene are all considered solvents.
Their main function is to liquefy grease and oils or dissolve solid soil into very small particles so surfactants can more readily perform their function. A preservative is nothing more than a substance that protects soaps and detergents against the natural effects of aging such as decay, discoloration, oxidation and bacterial degradation.
Synthetic detergents are preserved differently from soaps as we will see. In soaps, preservatives are used to forestall the natural tendency to develop rancidity and oxidize upon aging. In detergents, preservatives are used to prevent bacteria from spoiling the solution. This is necessary because detergents are naturally biodegradable by bacteria found in the air, waste treatment systems and soil once they enter the environment. Acrylics such as those in floor finishes can also spoil, if left untreated.
Essential uses a variety of preservatives, depending on the application. Linkedin Facebook Twitter. Generic filters Hidden label. Hidden label. The Chemistry of Cleaning. The Chemistry of Cleaning essind01 T Overview Soil Types Surfactants. Chelating Agents Builders. Solvents Preservatives. Soil Types. Soil can be broken down into three broad categories: organic, inorganic and combination. Chelating Agents.
They do this one of two ways: Sequestration — holding metal ions in solution. Precipitation — removing metal ions from solution as insoluble materials. Soap cleans by acting as an emulsifier. Basically, soap allows oil and water to mix so that oily grime can be removed during rinsing. Detergents were developed in response to the shortage of the animal and vegetable fats used to make soap during World War I and World War II. Detergents are primarily surfactants , which could be produced easily from petrochemicals.
Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, essentially making it 'wetter' so that it is less likely to stick to itself and more likely to interact with oil and grease. Modern detergents contain more than surfactants. Cleaning products may also contain enzymes to degrade protein-based stains, bleaches to de-color stains and add power to cleaning agents, and blue dyes to counter yellowing.
Like soaps, detergents have hydrophobic or water-hating molecular chains and hydrophilic or water-loving components. The hydrophobic hydrocarbons are repelled by water but are attracted to oil and grease.
The hydrophilic end of the same molecule means that one end of the molecule will be attracted to water, while the other side is binding to oil. Neither detergents nor soaps accomplish anything except binding to the soil until some mechanical energy or agitation is added into the equation.
Swishing the soapy water around allows the soap or detergent to pull the grime away from clothes or dishes and into the larger pool of rinse water. Rinsing washes the detergent and soil away. Warm or hot water melts fats and oils so that it is easier for the soap or detergent to dissolve the soil and pull it away into the rinse water. Detergents are similar to soap, but they are less likely to form films soap scum and are not as affected by the presence of minerals in the water hard water.
Modern detergents may be made from petrochemicals or from oleochemicals derived from plants and animals. Alkalis and oxidizing agents are also chemicals found in detergents. Now water can spread out and wet the surface e. The water-fearing end is known as the hydrophobic end. Hydrophobic comes from two Greek roots, hydro- meaning water and -phobia meaning fearing. The water-fearing end of the surfactant is made up of hydrocarbon chains. A hydrocarbon is a molecule that is made of hydrogen and carbon.
The chains love oil and grease and will try to stay away from water. The water-loving end is known as the hydrophilic end. The water-loving end of the chemical is attracted to water. Once the surfactant is added to water, the water-fearing ends try to stay away from the water. They do this by organizing into the shape of a sphere with the water-loving ends on the outside and the water-fearing ends protected on the inside. This spherical shape of surfactants is called a micelle.
The micelle is important because it is what traps the soil. Remember, the inside of the micelle is hydrophobic and does not want to be near water. The soil is also hydrophobic, so it likes the environment the micelle creates. The attraction of the soil to the inside of the surfactant micelle helps loosen the soil from its surface.
Once the soil lifts off the surface, it becomes suspended in the water in the micelle.
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