CHEM 208 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Soap Film, Wood Ash, Potassium Carbonate
19 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
These chemicals help us make our surroundings cleaner by removing soil and grease, and reducing germs. Water must be made to spread and wet surfaces effectively (surface tension must be reduced). This is achieved by using compounds called surfactants. Hydrophillic (water soluble) head and hydrophobic (fat soluble, water hating) tail. The hydrophilic end if stable when solubilized in water, and hydrophobic end consists of hydrocarbon that is more stable when surrounded by organic groups. Categorized by the charge of the hydrophilic component. Amphoteric surfactants both positive and negative. Long, hydrocarbon tail of fatty acids and polar heads of sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. Traditionally soap was made from animal fat and wood ash (composed of potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate) Made from combination of natural and renewable resources. Biodegradable, do not pollute bodies of water. Formation of soap film in water containing ca2+ and mg2+ ions (hard water)
