A sample of 'soft soap' contains

A sample of ‘soft soap’ contains

Caesium

Potassium

Calcium

Magnesium

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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Soaps are salts of fatty acids. The difference between hard soap and soft soap lies in the cation used. Hard soaps are typically the sodium salts of fatty acids (e.g., derived from NaOH reacting with fat/oil), while soft soaps are typically the potassium salts of fatty acids (e.g., derived from KOH reacting with fat/oil). Therefore, a sample of soft soap contains Potassium.

– Soap is produced by the saponification of fats or oils with a strong alkali.
– Hard soaps use sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the alkali, resulting in sodium salts of fatty acids.
– Soft soaps use potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the alkali, resulting in potassium salts of fatty acids.

– Soft soaps are generally more soluble in water and produce a richer lather than hard soaps. They are often used in liquid soaps and shaving creams.
– Calcium and Magnesium ions are present in hard water and react with soap to form insoluble precipitates (“soap scum”), which is why soap is less effective in hard water. They are not typically added as components of soap itself.

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