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Karnataka Board PUCPUC Science 2nd PUC Class 12

Why Do Soaps Not Work in Hard Water? - Chemistry

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Question

Why do soaps not work in hard water?

Solution

Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions. When soaps are dissolved in hard water, these ions displace sodium or potassium from their salts and form insoluble calcium or magnesium salts of fatty acids. These insoluble salts separate as scum.

`2C_17H_35COONa + CaCl -> 2NaCl + (C_17H_35COO)_2Ca`

          Soap                                                        Insiluable calcium Stearate(Soap)

 

This is the reason why soaps do not work in hard water.

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Chapter 16: Chemistry in Everyday Life - Exercises [Page 454]

APPEARS IN

NCERT Chemistry [English] Class 12
Chapter 16 Chemistry in Everyday Life
Exercises | Q 23 | Page 454

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