allerySoaps are chemically described as sodium or potassium salts of which type of compound?
AAlkyl hydrogen sulphates
BSulphonic acids
CShort-chain alcohols
DLong-chain carboxylic acids
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Long-chain carboxylic acids
1. Detergents are salts of sulphonic acids or alkyl hydrogen sulphates, so rule those out.
2. Alcohols are not the acid component of soap, so rule that out.
3. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids (fatty acids).
4. Hence the answer is long-chain carboxylic acids.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 11 "Carbon and its Compounds", p.173_
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