Chemistry in Everyday Life

Question

If water contains dissolved calcium bicarbonate, out of soaps and synthetic detergents which one will you use for cleaning clothes?

Answer

Calcium hydrogen carbonate present in water will furnish Ca2+ ions which cause hardness in water.
calcium ion form insoluble calcium soaps respectively when sodium potassium soaps are dissolved in hard water.
2C17H35COONa --> 2NaCl + (C17H35COO)2Ca
   Soap                                insoluble calcium stearate
Therefore, soaps cannot be used to clean clothes with such water.

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