As for cleaning agents, two types of detergents are utilized. Soaps and synthetic detergents are examples. These enhance the cleaning effects of water. These aid in the removal of lipids that bind other materials to fabric or skin.
Soaps
Soaps are sodium or potassium salt of long-chain fatty acids.
Fatty acids such as palmitic acids and stearic acid can be used.
Formation of soap
Soaps containing sodium salts are made by heating fat with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. This is referred to as saponification.
The reaction is as follows:-
Synthetic Detergents
Synthetic detergents are cleaning chemical agents that have all of the qualities of soap but include no soap.
Because they produce foam even in hard water, these can be used in both soft and hard water.
Some detergents produce foam even in ice-cold water.
