Question

What are advantages and disadvantages of detergents?

Answer 1

Hint :Detergent is a surfactant or mixture of surfactants that has cleaning properties in dilute solution with water. A detergent is similar to soap, but with a general structure $R-SO^{4-}$ , $Na^+$, where R is along a long chain alkyl group.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Advantages of detergents:
 $ 1. $ Detergent powders are known to help extend the life of your clothes. When you use a detergent powder like surf excel easy wash, the powder eliminates the insoluble salts which could stay on your clothes. This helps in increasing the life of your clothes.
 $ 2. $ Detergents may be more cost effective compared to other options.
 $ 3. $ It can scrub off difficult stains. This does not leave behind stains or marks on your clothes.
 $ 4. $ Washing cloth in detergents is safer, because it does not contain any harsh chemical which causes skin to effect.
  $ 5. $ It contains certain water softening agents, which helps in using this powder in different water quality.
Disadvantage are:
 $ 1. $ The major disadvantage of detergents is that they are non-biodegradable, which is really bad for the environment.
 $ 2. $ They cause soil and water pollution. This means you are somewhere risking your life along with animals which live in soil.
 $ 3. $ Excessive alkali used in some detergent can damage the fabric.
 $ 4. $ Colour may run out if you use a cheaper quality of detergent.
 $ 5. $ More amongst water rinses to remove foam, otherwise it will damage the fabric.

Note :
Like soaps, detergents are amphiphilic, meaning they have both hydrophobic and hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. They are easy to rinse. Detergent powders create less foam. Hence they are easy to rinse. It helps save water, electricity and your energy too.