Detergents are generally sodium salts of sulphonic acids or ammonium salts with chlorides or bromides ions. They typically have long hydrocarbon chains similar to those found in soap molecules.

Detergents, unlike soap, do not form insoluble precipitates with calcium and magnesium ions present in hard water. This allows detergents to remain effective even in hard water conditions.

The difficulty in forming foam and the presence of scum in hard water while washing with soap are caused by the reaction of soap with calcium and magnesium salts, which contribute to the hardness of water.

The ionic end of soap molecules interacts with water, while the carbon chain interacts with oil. This dual nature of soap molecules allows them to bridge the gap between water and oil, facilitating the formation of micelles and the removal ...

The formation of soap micelles enables the dirt and oil on clothes to be dispersed and washed away in water, effectively cleaning the fabric.