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A Lab Experience To Illustrate the Physicochemical Principles of Detergency

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F. J. Moreno-Dorado

Departamento Química Orgánica, Universidad de Cádiz, Facultad de Ciencias, Polígono del Río San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

C. Moreno and J. J. Pinto-Ganfornina

Departamento Química Analítica, Universidad de Cádiz, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Poligono del Río San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

M. Bethencourt-Núñez

Departamento de Ciencias de los Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Cádiz, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Polígono del Río San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

J. A. Poce-Fatou

Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Cádiz, Facultad de Ciencias, Polígono del Río San Pedro, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

J. Chem. Educ., 2008, 85 (2), p 266

DOI: 10.1021/ed085p266

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2008

Abstract

This article presents a lab experience to study detergency from a physicochemical point of view intended for undergraduate students. By means of a simple experimental device, we analyze the influence of the surfactant concentration in both distilled water and tap water. Our method is based on the measurement of diffuse reflectances of polyester samples impregnated with linseed oil. The discussion of the experimental results helps to introduce physicochemical concepts such as surfactant, adsorption, surface tension, work of adhesion, Gibbs isotherm, and electrical double layer, emulsion, or micelle. The device and the methodology adapt easily to study the influence of other experimental parameters such as temperature, stirring intensity, washing time, type of surfactant, and so forth. To extend the range of applicability of this experience we have included, in the Supplemental Material, detailed information about the syntheses of the organic and inorganic components of the detergent, analytical techniques to measure water hardness, surface tension measurements, and the mathematical treatment of experimental errors.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Aqueous Solution Chemistry

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

Laboratory Inquiry for Determining the Chemical Composition of a Component in a Daily Use Detergent: Sodium Sesquicarbonate
Nobuyoshi Koga, Tomoyasu Kimura, and Kana Shigedomi
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (9), 1309-1313
- Laboratory Inquiry for Determining the Chemical Composition of a Component in a Daily Use Detergent: Sodium Sesquicarbonate
  Nobuyoshi Koga, Tomoyasu Kimura, and Kana Shigedomi
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (9), 1309-1313
  An inquiry-based laboratory activity to determine the chemical composition of a component in alkaline detergents, sodium sesquicarbonate (SSC), is proposed. On the basis of introductory demonstrations by the instructor on the chemical properties and ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Using a Flatbed Scanner To Measure Detergency: A Cost-Effective Undergraduate Laboratory
J. A. Poce-Fatou, M. Bethencourt, F. J. Moreno-Dorado, and J. M. Palacios-Santander
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (9), 1314-1317
- Using a Flatbed Scanner To Measure Detergency: A Cost-Effective Undergraduate Laboratory
  J. A. Poce-Fatou, M. Bethencourt, F. J. Moreno-Dorado, and J. M. Palacios-Santander
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (9), 1314-1317
  The efficiency of a laundry-washing process is typically assessed using reflection measurements. A spectrometer and an integrating sphere are used to obtain the reflection data. The similarities between this equipment and a commercially available flatbed ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links