Washing powders contain detergents in the range of (by mass):
Modern synthetic detergents are alkyl or aryl sulphonates produced from petroleum (or coal) and sulphuric acid. They can be defined as the sodium or potassium salt of a long chain alkyl benzene sulphonic acid or the sodium or potassium salt of a long chain alkyl hydrogen sulphate, that has cleansing properties in water.
They are used in washing powders in a proportion of about 15−30%.