Question

The role of phosphate in detergent powder is to :

• A. Control $pH$ level of the detergent water mixture
• B. Remove $C{a}^{2+}$ and $M{g}^{2+}$ ions from the water that causes the hardness of water
• C. Provides whiteness to the fabrics
• D. Form solid detergent as phosphate-less detergents are liquid are in nature.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Remove $C{a}^{2+}$ and $M{g}^{2+}$ ions from the water that causes the hardness of water

The advantage of using phosphates in a consumer laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent is that they make detergents more efficient by chelating calcium and magnesium ions.

Hence option (B) is correct.