A non-ionic detergent C17H35COO(CH2CH2O)_nCH2CH2OH is compared with sodium stearate. Which statement is correct?

The non-ionic detergent has an ester group and a neutral hydrophilic polyether chain, so hard-water ions cannot precipitate it as a salt

Its hydrophilic part is the C17H35 chain

It has a carboxylate head that is precipitated by Ca^2+, like sodium stearate

It ionises to give a long-chain cation

The non-ionic detergent has an ester group and a neutral hydrophilic polyether chain, so hard-water ions cannot precipitate it as a salt

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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3el195

A non-ionic detergent $C X_{17} H X_{35} COO (CH X_{2} CH X_{2} O) X_{n} CH X_{2} CH X_{2} OH$ is compared with sodium stearate. Which statement is correct?

AIts hydrophilic part is the $C X_{17} H X_{35}$ chain
BIt has a carboxylate head that is precipitated by $Ca X^{2 +}$ , like sodium stearate
CIt ionises to give a long-chain cation
DThe non-ionic detergent has an ester group and a neutral hydrophilic polyether chain, so hard-water ions cannot precipitate it as a salt

Answer: D

The molecule is an ester of stearic acid with polyethylene glycol, so it has no ionic group. Its hydrophilic part is the polyether chain with terminal

- OH

, which hydrogen-bonds with water. With no carboxylate to pair with

Ca X^{2 +}

, no insoluble salt forms. The

C X_{17} H X_{35}

chain is the hydrophobic part.

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A non-ionic detergent CX17​HX35​COO(CHX2​CHX2​O)Xn​CHX2​CHX2​OH is compared with sodium stearate. Which statement is correct?

Answer: D

More questions on Cleansing agents: soaps and detergents

A non-ionic detergent $C X_{17} H X_{35} COO (CH X_{2} CH X_{2} O) X_{n} CH X_{2} CH X_{2} OH$ is compared with sodium stearate. Which statement is correct?