Which of the following statement is INCORRECT ?

Options

A. Cationic detergents have germicidal properties
B. Bacteria can degrade the detergents containing highly branched chains
C. Some synthetic detergents can give foam even in ice cold water.
D. Synthetic detergents are not soaps

Answer

To determine which statement is incorrect among the provided options, we will analyze each statement one by one.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Examine the First Statement**:
- **Statement**: Cationic detergents have germicidal properties.
- **Analysis**: This statement is true. Cationic detergents are known for their ability to kill germs due to their antimicrobial properties.

2. **Examine the Second Statement**:
- **Statement**: Bacteria can degrade the detergents containing highly branched chains.
- **Analysis**: This statement is false. Bacteria can typically degrade detergents that have straight-chain structures, not those with highly branched chains. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

3. **Examine the Third Statement**:
- **Statement**: Some synthetic detergents can give foam even in ice-cold water.
- **Analysis**: This statement is true. Certain synthetic detergents, such as Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, can produce foam in cold water, although their efficiency may be affected by temperature.

4. **Examine the Fourth Statement**:
- **Statement**: Synthetic detergents are not soaps.
- **Analysis**: This statement is true. Soaps and synthetic detergents are chemically different; detergents can work in hard water, while soaps do not lather well in such conditions.

### Conclusion:
After analyzing all statements, we find that the **second statement** is incorrect. Therefore, the answer to the question is that the second statement is the one that is false.