Cleaners

Introduction

A mixture of compounds that removes dirt and other ingredients from skin, hair, clothing and other materials.   They are classified as soaps and detergents.   Cleaners work by

Soap is a mixture of natural animal or plant fats and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) that is combined with water.   The fats are often hardened by adding hydrogen atoms through a process called hydrogenation.The chemical reaction for making soap, called saponification, is as follows:

Note: R represents a carbon-hydrogen group of atoms.

CHHCOOR (fat) + NaOH (soda) ——> NaOCOR (soap) + CHHOH glycerin)

  A shampoo is a soap used to clean hair.   It is made to lather substantially and has ingredients to condition the hair so that it is less dry or less greasy.   A fungicide may be included to kill dandruff (Malassezia furfur) on humans.   Animal shampoos may include insecticides to kill fleas and other parasites.

A detergent

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