Question

Overuse of synthetic detergents causes water pollution why? Give reason

Answer 1

Hint: The synthetic detergents are cleansing agents used to washcloths other than soap. The synthetic detergents commonly dish detergents and laundry detergents are non-biodegradable. Non-biodegradable materials are those which cannot be decomposed by micro-organism.

Complete answer:
Synthetic detergents are synthetic materials used for cleaning which are different from soap. It is a cleanser and works both on hard water and soft water as a surface–active agent. It reduces the surface tension of an aqueous mixture. The synthetic detergent is used as a biological agent used for washing cloth and fuel additives. Examples of synthetic detergents are dish detergents and laundry detergent
The excess use of synthetic detergents can cause water pollution as it pollutes the water. In rural areas, the clothes are washed near water sources where the detergent water is discharged into the aquatic bodies which cause water pollution. As detergents are non-biodegradable material that cannot decompose easily by the micro-organism they remain in the water bodies for many years. The chemicals present in the detergents can harm aquatic animals and increase the growth of algae in the water. This forms a layer on the surface of water due to which the oxygen supply is decreased in the water sources and makes the aquatic animals hard to breathe which ultimately leads to death. Thus, the overuse of synthetic detergents causes water pollution.

Note: The synthetic detergents are formed by surfactants that organize the organic particles in the water by micelle formation. The detergents are classified into anionic detergents, cationic detergents, and Zwitterion.