Question

Hard soap is a salt whereas soft soap is a salt of fatty acids.

• A. sodium
• B. potassium
• C. flouride
• D. sulphur

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

The correct options are
A sodium
B potassium

Soap is a sodium or potassium salt of fatty acids which have cleansing property in water.
$\bullet$ Sodium soaps are called hard soaps and potassium salts are called soft soaps.
$\bullet$ Hard soap is moderately soluble in water and does not produce lather easily. Whereas, soft soap dissolves faster and produces lather readily.
$\bullet$ Soft soap performs better cleansing action than hard soaps.
$\bullet$ Hard soaps are used for washing, whereas soft soaps are used for bathing.