Why do detergents make lather with hard water?
Thanks :)

Question

merc3333 · Answer

what?

Vijeya3 · Answer

can ya help?

kittybasil · Answer

Not sure if this is a good link but this may help?

Vijeya3 · Answer

ohkay thanks :)

AravindG · Answer

It's there in the cbse Chemistry textbooks. I learnt from that but I don't remember 1% of it now XD

Vijeya3 · Answer

oh lol
no but those books have been revised..and we use NCERT
which does  not have this in detail and stuff...I mean just this statement is there...but not the reason why

Tanya123 · Answer

I didnt know there was such a thing called hard water o.O

JustSaiyan · Answer

@Vijeya3 are you asking what name detergents, or how it happens?

Vijeya3 · Answer

how it happens @JustSaiyan

JustSaiyan · Answer

Detergents lather in both hard and soft water. The Calcium and magnesium salts of the detergent's organic acids form, but these salts are soluble in water.

JustSaiyan · Answer

Detergents break down like soap does, but take much longer. Thus, foamy lather.

Vijeya3 · Answer

but...why?like cuz of their composition?
what is that stuff that makes them lather?

JustSaiyan · Answer

The Salts in the detergent, I would assume.

Vijeya3 · Answer

ahh thanks <33

JustSaiyan · Answer

Your welcome. I hope this answer wasn't too late.

Vijeya3 · Answer

nah atleast ya answered :)

psirockin3 · Answer

Soft water readily forms lather with soap, but it is more difficult to form lather with hard water. The dissolved calcium ions and magnesium ions in hard water react with the soap to form scum, so more soap is needed. Soapless detergents do not form scum with hard water.