SOAP
Soap vs. Detergents - essentially the same - true soap is made from a fat or oil with a sodium or potassium salt - detergents are artificial
Oil and Water Non-Polar Slightly Polar Overall = Non-Polar and doesn’t interact with water When mixed, the water segregates from the oil because it is attracted to itself.
Soap Formation Saponification Reaction
Soap Molecule - interacts with water Non-Polar – interacts with oil/fat - Hydrophobic - surrounds fat molecules Polar+Ionic Charge – Hydrophillic - interacts with water
Soap and Fat/Oil Interaction
How does soap kill bacteria and viruses? Soap disrupts their membranes and breaks them apart
“Anti-bacterial” Soap Adds specific chemicals such as Triclosan, which enters bacterial cells and disrupts their enzymes. May also be an endocrine disruptor in humans. ALL SOAP IS ANTI-BACTERIAL
Detergents and Oil Spills - Oil blocks movement of oxygen into the water and coats marine mammals and birds - Detergents emulsify oil into smaller pieces so microbes can digest it - Dawn Dish Detergent