Synthetic detergents, which are
also known as syndets, were developed to overcome
the difficulties faced while using soap as a cleaning
agent. Soaps when used in hard water precipitate the
calcium and magnesium salts, due to which it's effectiveness
as a cleaning agent deteriorates.
In addition, edible oil & fats,
which could be put to other uses, are used as raw
materials for the manufacture of soaps. These problems
are circumvented in synthetic detergents that are
highly stable in hard water and do not consume valuable
and expensive oil for their manufacture. |