Two types of detergents are used as cleansing agents. These are soaps and synthetic detergents. These improve cleansing properties of water. These help in removal of fats which bind other materials to the fabric or skin.

Soaps are the detergents used since long. Soaps used for cleaning purpose are sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids, e.g., stearic, oleic and palmitic acids. Soaps containing sodium salts are formed by heating fat (i.e., glyceryl ester of fatty acid) with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. This reaction is known as saponification.

Identify the cationic detergent from the following.

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

The correct answer is option 1. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

Cationic detergents are a type of surfactant (surface-active agent) that contain a positively charged hydrophilic (water-attracting) head group. This positively charged head group is attracted to negatively charged surfaces, such as those found on dirt, grease, and other contaminants, facilitating their removal from surfaces.

One example of a cationic detergent is cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). CTAB has a long hydrophobic tail and a positively charged quaternary ammonium head group. The long hydrophobic tail is typically derived from a long carbon chain, such as cetyl (hexadecyl), which provides the surfactant with its ability to dissolve nonpolar substances, such as oils and fats.

In aqueous solutions, CTAB molecules form micelles, which are spherical aggregates where the hydrophobic tails are shielded from water by the hydrophilic head groups. These micelles can solubilize nonpolar substances, allowing them to be washed away.

Cationic detergents like CTAB are commonly used in various applications, including:

1. Laboratory Research: CTAB is often used in molecular biology and biochemistry laboratories for DNA and protein purification, as it can solubilize and separate biomolecules based on their charge.

2. Personal Care Products: Cationic detergents are found in many personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and body washes, where they help to cleanse the skin and hair by removing dirt and oils.

3. Industrial Applications: Cationic detergents are used in industrial settings for cleaning and sanitizing purposes, as well as in the production of textiles, paper products, and household cleaning agents.

Overall, cationic detergents like CTAB play an important role in cleaning and sanitation by effectively removing contaminants from surfaces through their surfactant properties.