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Generally speaking, soap contains surfactants, which are chemicals that cut the surface tension of water and which will "link up" with oil, grease and dirt to allow water to wash it away. There is a lot more to the chemistry of soap (sometimes called detergent), and links can be found below to learn more.

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15y ago

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Is detergent basic?

Yes. It is!


Is detergent and acid or base?

Usually, it is a base, but that depends on the brand and it's purpose. Bleaches are acidic, while dish detergent is basic.


Why is detergent basic in nature and the hand wash solution acidic in nature?

Hand washing solution are also basic.


Is detergent solution and acid or base?

Detergent solutions are usually slightly basic because they contain surfactants that can act as weak bases.


What happens when litmus paper is applied in washing detergent?

Litmus paper will likely turn blue when applied to washing detergent due to the alkaline nature of most detergents. This color change indicates that the detergent is basic.


Is a detergent basic or acidic?

Detergents are generally considered to be basic in nature. This is because they often contain surfactants, which have a tendency to be more basic due to their chemical structure.


Is dish detergent an acid or a base?

Dish detergent is usually a base. It contains surfactants that help to remove grease and grime by lowering the surface tension of water and allowing it to penetrate and clean more effectively.


What colour would detergent be in a universal indicator?

Dishwater detergent with a bit of water would be in the pH range of 3-6.


Is detergent solution is a acid or base or neutral?

Detergent solutions can be either acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on their ingredients. Some detergents are formulated to be slightly basic (pH greater than 7) to enhance their cleaning ability. It ultimately depends on the specific formulation of the detergent product.


What is Liquid detergent in litmus paper is it acid or base?

If liquid detergent turns red litmus paper blue, it is likely a base. Red litmus paper turns blue in the presence of a base, indicating that the detergent is causing a basic reaction.


Why use sodium carbonate for neutralization in detergent synthesis?

Sodium carbonate is used for neutralization in detergent synthesis because it is basic enough to deprotonate the precurser to the synthetic detergent but if excess is added will not result in a soap with a very high pH as NaOH would. Sodium carbonate is used for neutralization in detergent synthesis because it is basic enough to deprotonate the precurser to the synthetic detergent but if excess is added will not result in a soap with a very high pH as NaOH would.


Is powdered laundry detergent an acid or base?

Powdered laundry detergent is typically basic in nature. It contains alkaline substances such as sodium carbonate or sodium silicate to help remove grease and oils from clothes.