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Detergents are better cleansing agents than soaps because they can be used even
with hard water.
Scum formation does not take place when we use synthetic detergents with hard
water.
Reason- The charged ends of detergents do not form insoluble precipitates with
calcium and magnesium ions in hard water. So formation of scum does not take
place and cleaning can be done effectively.

Hence detergents have a stronger cleansing action than soaps and are more soluble
in water than soaps

 Cleansing Action of Soaps and Detergents-

- Most of the dirt is oily in nature and oil does not dissolve in water.
- The molecule of soap constitutes of sodium or potassium salts of long-
chaincarboxylic acids.

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