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Exercises · 16.26

Q.If water contains dissolved calcium hydrogencarbonate, out of soaps and synthetic detergents which one will you use for cleaning clothes ?

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Water containing dissolved calcium hydrogencarbonate, Ca(HCO3)2Ca(HCO_3)_2, is a form of (temporarily) hard water, since it supplies Ca2+Ca^{2+} ions.

If soap is used in this water, the soap anion reacts with the Ca2+Ca^{2+} ions to form an insoluble calcium salt of the fatty acid, e.g.:

2C17H35COO−Na++Ca(HCO3)2→(C17H35COO)2Ca↓+2NaHCO32C_{17}H_{35}COO^-Na^+ + Ca(HCO_3)_2 → (C_{17}H_{35}COO)_2Ca↓ + 2NaHCO_3

This insoluble precipitate (scum) wastes the soap and gives poor lather/cleaning until all the Ca2+Ca^{2+} is used up. …

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