MolSynapsequestion bank
MolSynapse / Question bank / Chemistry in Everyday Life / Cleansing agents: soaps and detergents
JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3el049

Four unknown compounds W, X, Y, Z were examined. W: foams in distilled water, gives a white precipitate and loses foam in 0.01 M ; in water it gives a long-chain carboxylate anion. X: foams in distilled water and in solution; gives a long-chain sulphonate anion. Y: foams in both; gives a long-chain cation containing a quaternary nitrogen. Z: foams in both; does not ionise at all. Choose the correct assignment.

  1. AW soap; X anionic detergent; Y cationic detergent; Z non-ionic detergent
  2. BW anionic detergent; X soap; Y cationic detergent; Z non-ionic detergent
  3. CW soap; X cationic detergent; Y anionic detergent; Z non-ionic detergent
  4. DW soap; X anionic detergent; Y non-ionic detergent; Z cationic detergent

Answer: A

Only W is precipitated by calcium, which is the behaviour of a carboxylate soap. X, a sulphonate that keeps foaming in hard water, is an anionic detergent. Y has a positive quaternary ammonium head, so it is cationic. Z carries no charge, so it is non-ionic.
Practice Chemistry in Everyday Life More on Cleansing agents: soaps and detergents
Previous questionNext question

More questions on Cleansing agents: soaps and detergents