Criteria | Soaps | Synthetic Detergents |
Chemical Composition | Sodium or potassium salts of carboxylic acids (fatty acid) in long chains | Sodium alkyl sulphates or sodium alkyl benzene sulphonates with long alkyl chains |
Source | Prepared from natural oils and fats | Prepared from hydrocarbons of petroleum |
Effectiveness in Hard Water | Forms insoluble salts with calcium and magnesium in hard water, making them less effective | Calcium and magnesium salts are soluble, effective in hard water |
Effectiveness in Acidic Medium | Cannot be used in acidic medium as they decompose into carboxylic acids | Can be used in acidic medium as they are salts of strong acids and do not decompose in acidic medium |
Biodegradability | Biodegradable | Some are biodegradable, but others are not |
Basic Formula |  |  |
