Many people are confused about the difference between soap and detergent. Soaps and detergents are not the same thing, although both are surfactants, or surface active agents, which basically means a washing compound that mixes with grease and water. Soaps are made of materials found in nature. Detergents are synthetic (although some of the ingredients are natural); they were developed during World War II when oils to make soap were scarce. There is little doubt …showed first 75 words of 706 total…

…showed last 75 words of 706 total…are less effective in hard water. Metallic soaps (salts of calcium, magnesium, lithium, copper, and zinc) are used in greases and lubricating oils. Soaps and Detergents both have certain aspects that make the other look inferior. Detergents have their pros and con's as do soaps. But one thing is for sure and that is that without these cleaning products the world's standard of living would not be as high as high as it is now.