JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3el046
Polyethylene glycol stearate is prepared and classified as
Aneutralisation of stearic acid with NaOH, giving an anionic soap
Bsulphonation of dodecylbenzene, giving an anionic detergent
Cquaternisation of trimethylamine with a cetyl halide, giving a cationic detergent
Desterification of stearic acid with polyethylene glycol, giving a non-ionic detergent
Answer: D
The acid and the polyol form an ester, and the molecule has no charged head, so it is a non-ionic detergent. The other routes describe a soap, an alkylbenzenesulphonate and a quaternary ammonium detergent.