Jatinder a class XII student read the composition of the detergent which his mother was using for washing clothes. He found that besides the cleansing agent, the other ingredient of the detergent was polyphosphates. He told his mother about the pollution that detergents cause to our rivers and other waterways. After reading the above passage, answer the following questions : (i) What values are expressed by Jatinder? (ii) What is the cleansing agent usually present in domestic detergents? (iii) Why are polyphosphates added to detergents and how do they cause pollution?

Jatinder a class XII student read the composition of the detergent whi

1.	Jatinder a class XII student read the composition of the detergent which his mother was using for washing clothes. He found that besides the cleansing agent, the other ingredient of the detergent was polyphosphates. He told his mother about the pollution that detergents cause to our rivers and other waterways. After reading the above passage, answer the following questions : (i) What values are expressed by Jatinder? (ii) What is the cleansing agent usually present in domestic detergents? (iii) Why are polyphosphates added to detergents and how do they cause pollution?
Answer» Solution :(i)Jatinder expressed CONCERN regarding protection of our rivers and other waterways from pollution. (II)Detergents are sodium or potassium salts of benzenesulphonic acid (iii)Polyphosphates are added to detergents to soften water. They form soluble complexes with `Cu^(2+)` and `Mg^(2+)` ions THEREBY making them ineffective. `2Ca^(2+)+ underset("Sod. hexametaphosphate")(Na_2[Na_4(PO_3)_6])to underset("Solublecomplex ")(Na_2[Ca_2(PO_3)_6])+4Na^(+)` `2Mg^(2+) + Na_2[Na_4(PO_3)_6] to underset("Soluble complex")(Na_2[Mg_2(PO_3)_6])+4Na^(+)` These polyphosphates nourish bacteria which grow excessively and deplete water of dissolved oxygenthus killing fish and other small AQUATIC animals.