Question

Soaps are biodegradable whereas detergents are non biodegradable.

Answer 1

Hint: Soaps are sodium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. Detergents are sodium salts of long-chain benzene sulphonic acids. Soaps are biodegradable, however other detergents are not. Soaps have a modest cleaning impact, but detergents have a powerful cleaning activity.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Soap molecules feature straight hydrocarbon chains, which bacteria in sewage water may easily degrade. Detergent molecules, on the other hand, have branched hydrocarbon chains that bacteria in sewage water either don't attack or attack slowly.
Soaps are completely biodegradable. They are not effective in hard water and saline water. Natural sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, are used to make them. Because soap is biodegradable, it is an environmentally friendly product. Examples of soaps: sodium palmitate and sodium stearate.
They do not lose their effectiveness in hard water and saline water. Scum does not form as a result of these chemicals. Synthetic derivatives are used as detergents. These substances can produce a thick froth that kills aquatic life. Examples of detergents: deoxycholic acid and sodium lauryl sulphate.

Note:
Saponification of oils and fats is the most often used method for manufacturing soap. This method includes heating oils and fats and then reacting them with a liquid alkali to produce soap, water, and glycerine. The neutralisation of fatty acids with an alkali is the other soap-making process. Glycerine and crude fatty acids are produced by hydrolysing oils and fats with high-pressure steam. After that, the fatty acids are refined using the distillation technique and neutralised with an alkali to generate water and soap.