How are soap and detergent similar, and what are their differences?
Soap and detergent have some similar properties, and the words are often used interchangeably in spite of some significant differences. Soaps and detergents are both surfactants that clean by reducing the surface tension of water. Surface tension of water is what makes it form beads because the water molecules are attracted to each other. Surfactants reduce the attraction and are said to make water ‘wetter.’ One difference between soaps and detergents is that soaps are made of materials found in nature and detergents are made of synthetic chemicals. Detergents were developed as a synthetic alternative soap during World War I when there was a shortage of fats used in soap making. According to the EPA, “The word ‘detergent’ refers to household cleaning products which are based on non-soap, synthetic surfactants and which are primarily used for laundering and dishwashing.” Many liquid soap products contain synthetic surfactants like sodiuim lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, but B
