Table of Contents
What compound is responsible for soap scum?
magnesium stearate
Soap scum or lime soap is the white solid composed of calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, and similar alkali metal derivatives of fatty acids. These materials result from the addition of soap and other anionic surfactants to hard water.
Which of the following compounds is responsible for the formation of scum when soap is mixed with hard water?
When soap is dissolved in hard water, it reacts with the calcium and magnesium ions that are present there and form calcium and magnesium salt of fatty acids. These salts are not miscible in water at all and form a white layer on the surface of the water called scum.
What causes the formation of scum?
When a soap is used in hard water, it leads to the formation of a solid substance. This substance is commonly called scum. The formation of scum is due to the calcium and magnesium ions present in water which react with the soap molecule to form an insoluble and undesirable product.
What name is given to the type of water that reacts with soap to form scum?
Permanent hard water
Permanent hard water is also responsible for the bathtub “ring,” or soap scum, seen after showering or bathing. As previously mentioned, permanent hard water contains calcium and magnesium cations. These cations react with soap to form insoluble compounds that are then deposited on the sides of the tub.
What is the chemical name of soap?
What Is the Chemical Formula for Soap. For centuries, humans have known the basic recipe for soap — it is a reaction between fats and a strong base. The exact chemical formula is C17H35COO- plus a metal cation, either Na+ or K+. The final molecule is called sodium stearate and is a type of salt.
What is the chemical reaction for soap scum formation?
When hard water and soap are mixed, the magnesium ion reacts with soap molecules and forms a solid material called a precipitate, which does not dissolve. This precipitate (soap scum) reduces the ability of the soap to make bubbles.
What is lime soap?
: an insoluble soap that is formed as a troublesome curd when ordinary soap is used in hard water but that may be specially prepared for use in lubricating greases, in waterproofing agents, and in the paint industry — compare calcium stearate.
Which chemical is responsible for temporary hardness of water?
calcium bicarbonate
Temporary hardness is a type of water hardness caused by the presence of dissolved bicarbonate minerals (calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate).
What are soaps chemistry?
Soaps are chemically classified as salts of fatty acids because of the presence of an ionic, or polar head, and a nonpolar glyceride tail. The head is composed of positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged oxygen ions, while the tail is a fatty chain. Sodium benzoate and benzoic acid. Sodium laureth sulfate.
What are salts responsible for hard water?
hard water, water that contains salts of calcium and magnesium principally as bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates. Ferrous iron may also be present; oxidized to the ferric form, it appears as a reddish brown stain on washed fabrics and enameled surfaces.
Is soap a compound?
Soap is not a compound, it is a mixture of sodium and potassium salts of long chain fatty acids containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms.