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CHAPTER 5: CHEMICAL FOR

CONSUMERSc
Soap is a salt that is formed by the reaction between an alkali and a
fatty acid.Soap can be prepared by heating oil or fat with alkali.This process
is called saponification.c

The saponification process is the hydrolysis process of ester (oil and fat)
into soap,by alkali.Soap ions comprises of an ionic head region (hydrophilic end)
that dissolves in water and a hydrocarbon tail region (hydrophilic end) that
dissolves in water and a hydrocarbon tail region (hydrophobic end) that
dissolves in grease or oil.c
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Table 14.1 Types of soapc

Soap molecules can reduce the surface tension of water so that the water
can wet the surface of materials better.Detergent is a salt that is produced
from the reaction between an alkali and a sulphonic acid.c

Sodium alkyl sulphate detergent can be prepared from a neutralisation

reaction between alkyl sulphonic acid and sodium hydroxide solution.Soaps
cannot be used in hard water (produces scum)cbut detergent can be used in
hard water.Detergent comprises of additives such as whitening
agents,bleaching substances,biological enzymes, flourescent materials and
perfumesc

Commonly used food additives include preservatives,antioxidants,flavouring

agents, stabilisers,thickening agents,and colouring agents.c
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Various additives are added into food toc

cccccccccccccccccccca) preserve foodc

b) improve the taste of foodc

c) make food look more attractivec

d) enrich food with certain nutrientsc

Excess consumption of food additives can disrupt the body's

health.medicine is a chemical that is used for medicinal purposes.Traditional
medicine can be extracted directly from plants (herbs) or animals.Analgesics
are medicine that can reduce pain.Aspirin,paracetamol and codeine are
examples of analgesics.c

Antibiotics are medicines used to cure diseases caused by

bacteria.Examples of antibiotics are penicilin and
streptomycin.Psychotherapeutic medicines are kind of medicine that acts on
the brain and the nervous system. Examples of psychotherapeutic medicines
are stimulants,antidepressants and tranquilisers.c

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