Chemical Reactions in Laundry Detergents

• Laundry detergent works better than soap because it contains substances that soften hard water.

• Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium ions.

• These ions interfere with the action of soap by reacting with it to form a gray, slimy substance called curd or soap scum.

• If you have ever washed your clothes in ordinary soap, you may have noticed gray soap scum residue on your clothes.