How does the branching of hydrocarbon chain of synthetic detergents affect their biodegradability ?

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Hydrocarbon Chains**: Synthetic detergents are composed of hydrocarbon chains, which can be either branched or unbranched. The structure of these chains significantly influences their properties, including biodegradability.

2. **Effect of Branching on Biodegradability**: The branching of the hydrocarbon chain affects how easily bacteria can attack and break down the detergent. Highly branched chains create steric hindrance, which makes it difficult for bacteria to access and degrade the hydrocarbon chain.

3. **Comparison of Branched vs. Unbranched Chains**:
- **Branched Hydrocarbon Chains**: These chains are less biodegradable because the side branches inhibit bacterial attack. As a result, the degradation process is slowed down, leading to increased environmental pollution.
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