introduction about soap and detergent

Soap and detergent are substances that, when dissolved in water, possess the ability to remove dirt from surfaces such as the human skin, textiles, and other solids. 1 Soap is the sodium or potassium salt of a long-chain carboxylic acid or glycerol 2 , while detergents are known as the chemical compounds of a mixture of compounds that are used as cleansing agents. 2 Soap is prepared by heating animal fats or vegetable oils 3 , while detergents are made from petroleum products. 1 Soap has been used for cleaning laundry since the Middle Ages 4 , while detergents were developed during World War II. 4 Soap is also used as a thickener, component of some lubricants, and precursor to catalysts. 5