What makes detergent work?
History During World War I and World War II, a shortage of animal and vegetable fats and oils used to manufacture soaps led to the development of detergents derived from petroleum. Today, detergents are manufactured from various petroleum derivatives (petrochemicals) as well as natural fat and oil derivatives (oleochemicals). Function Surface tension is the mutually-attracting property of water molecules that cause water drops to bead. For effective cleaning, this surface tension must be weakened so that the water molecules disperse more readily over soiled surfaces. Surface active agents—surfactants—are chemicals that counteract water’s surface tension and, in effect, make water “wetter.” Detergents contain one or more surfactants. Features In addition to reducing water’s surface tension, the surfactants in detergents also loosen oily soils and suspend them in the detergent-and-water solution, so they can be rinsed away. Detergent surfactants also typically include alkaline chemic
