Dirty cloths containing grease and oil stains are cleaned by adding de...
One end of hairpin shaped detergents attracted to water and other to molecules of oil or grease that reduces drastically the surface tension between water and oil.
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Dirty cloths containing grease and oil stains are cleaned by adding de...
Stains are removed because detergent reduces drastically the surface tension between water and oil.
Introduction:
When clothes become stained with grease or oil, it can be challenging to remove these stains using just water. However, by adding detergents to water, the process becomes more effective. This is because detergents have unique properties that allow them to interact with both water and oil, leading to the removal of stains. One crucial property of detergents is their ability to reduce the surface tension between water and oil, which aids in the removal of grease and oil stains.
Surface Tension:
Surface tension refers to the cohesive forces that exist between the molecules at the surface of a liquid. In the case of water, the molecules at the surface are attracted to each other, creating a surface tension that causes the water to form droplets or beads. This surface tension makes it difficult for water to spread evenly over a surface and interact with substances like oil and grease.
Interaction with Oil:
Oil and grease are non-polar substances, meaning they do not mix well with water, which is a polar molecule. When oil is present on fabric, it tends to repel water, making it challenging to remove the stains using water alone. However, detergents have a unique molecular structure that allows them to interact with both water and oil.
How Detergents Work:
Detergents contain molecules that have a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. The hydrophilic head is attracted to water, while the hydrophobic tail is attracted to oil and grease. When detergent is added to water, the hydrophilic heads align with the water molecules, while the hydrophobic tails align with the oil molecules.
Reducing Surface Tension:
The alignment of detergent molecules at the water-oil interface reduces the surface tension between the two substances. This reduction in surface tension allows the water to spread more evenly over the fabric and penetrate the oil and grease stains. As a result, the detergent helps to loosen and dislodge the stains, making them easier to remove during the washing process.
Conclusion:
In summary, the addition of detergents to water when cleaning clothes with grease and oil stains is effective because detergents reduce the surface tension between water and oil. This reduction in surface tension allows the water to interact more effectively with the stains, leading to their removal during the washing process.