Saponification HELP!

[sunshinelollipops]

I'm struggling with Saponification, could someone talk me through how to answer the following q:
Detergent have largely replaced soaps as cleaning agents. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using detergents in place of soaps.

Would I split it down as 3 advantages and disadvantages? Or would I talk about anionic, cationic and non-ionic synthetic detergents and do a pro or con for each?

Thanks in advance!

[RuiAce]

I'm struggling with Saponification, could someone talk me through how to answer the following q:
Detergent have largely replaced soaps as cleaning agents. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using detergents in place of soaps.

Would I split it down as 3 advantages and disadvantages? Or would I talk about anionic, cationic and non-ionic synthetic detergents and do a pro or con for each?

Thanks in advance!

For that question point, you would be more interested in classifying detergents as a whole. Soaps and detergents each have their own strengths when it comes to functionality, but also the impact on the environment.

You would go for the 3 advantages and disadvantages. Because we are talking about detergents in general. Although if you have a worthwhile mention for a specific type of detergent, that is always good.

Consider the dot point: Solve problems and use available evidence to discuss, using examples, theenvironmental impacts of the use of soaps and detergents. You could argue that soaps were bad in that they're not really degradable and too much foam forms in waterways, but then detergents, which contain 'builders', carry phosphate ions which cause eutrophication problems.

Also consider this dot point: Distinguish between soaps and synthetic detergents in terms of: The structure of the molecule, chemical composition, and its effect in hard water. Soaps are pretty bad in hard water as they produce scum, which is not a problem for detergents.

There are many things in the meantime. Here's some further reading.

Note that the question also gives you a stimulus: "Detergents have largely replaced soaps as cleaning agents". This means that you may want to consider more advantages that support the claim, rather than disadvantages that reject the claim. This isn't an assess question per se; it's an explain.