Why are detergents better cleansing agents than soaps? Explain.

Explanation

Detergents are generally ammonium or sulphonate salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. The charged ends of these compounds do not form insoluble precipitates with the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water. Thus, they remain effective in hard water. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids which react with calcium and magnesium ions in hard water and form a scum (a insoluble precipitate of soap).