Active Ingredients in Product
Labels
Group 8
What Is it?
Cleaning products contain substances that remove
dirt, stain, and bad smell. There are a number of
cleaning products, and some of them are used to
clean surfaces such as bathroom tiles, floors, sinks,
and drains. Others are used to clean clothing,
blankets, and curtains.
Examples of cleaning products
01 02
Detergent Bleach
03 04
Drain cleaner Disinfectant
01
Detergent
Clyde Timpog
Detergent
Detergent contains surfactant, which are
substances with cleaning properties. The most
common surfactants are sodium alkyl, benzyl
sulfonates, and carboxylates. These specific
active ingredients have long water- insoluble
hydrocarbon tail and water-soluble polar
heads. When a group of surfactant molecules
is placed in water, the form micelles. They
orient themselves with the hydrocarbon tails,
sticking to one another while the polar heads
are pointing outwards and into the water.
When detergent is mixed with water, the
micelles are dispersed throughout the water.
In a scenario, when grease is present on a
fabric, the micelle disperses and entraps the
grease. When detergent is rinsed out, the
grease comes with it.
02
Bleach
Kyoko Migita
This is a household cleaning product used to
remove dyes and whiten clothing. The color that
stains white fabrics typically arise from organic
dyes and pigments. For example, when ballpen ink
spills on your white uniform, the ink pigment
binds with the fabric.
Chlorine-based bleaches, like sodium hypochlorite
and calcium hypochlorite, are used the break the
chemical bonds of the pigment. Then, the pigment
is changed to a different substance that does not
absorb visible light, thereby making the fabric
appears white again.
Activity:
Give an example of a cleaning
product that you can see around you
03
Drain cleaner
Sheena Anne A. Palazo
A drain cleaner is a chemical
product that unblocks sewer pipes
or clogged wastewater drains.
Caustic drain cleaners contain
substances such as lye (sodium
hydroxide) and caustic potash.
They are bases, so they give
electrons to the clogging
substance. Meanwhile, the
hydroxide ions create the reaction
that clears the clog.
On the other hand, acid drain
cleaners contain high
concentrations of sulfuric acid or
hydrochloric acid. These are
substances that increase the
number of hydrogen ions in a
solution and attract electrons
from the clog.
04
Disinfectant
Janah Mariz Nazaire
Disinfectant is used to lessen microbes
on surfaces but not clean them. It is
usually used to disinfects door handles,
tables, toilets and bathroom surfaces
because it can kill disease-causing
microorganisms called pathogens such as
salmonella and staphylococci bacteria.
Most disinfectants, such as alcohol and
chlorine, work by denaturing proteins of
microorganisms. When this happens, the
metabolism of microorganisms is
disrupted, causing death.
Here are some important pointers in determining
the active ingredient:
1. It can be seen in the labels of consumer
products.
2. It can be classified as acidic, basic, or
neutral.
3. The determination of its acidity or
basicity will dictate how the product will
work.
Read the following questions
carefully and choose the correct
letter
1. What do you call the substances that are not directly
used in achieving the performance of a product?
A. Active Ingredients
B. Inactive Ingredients
C. Enhancing Ingredients
D. Secret Ingredients
2. How does disinfectant work?
A. It kills microorganisms
B. It gets rid of undesired pigments.
C. It cleans a wide variety of surfaces.
D. It freshens and purifies the air.
3. Which of the following form micelles when
placed in water?
A. Bleach
B. Disinfectant
C. Detergent
D. Drain cleaner
4. It is the functional ingredient of a household
product.
A. Active Ingredients
B. Secret Ingredients
C. Inactive Ingredients
D. Enhancing Ingredients
5. Why is it necessary to indicate the active
ingredient in product labels of cleaning products?
A. Because it is a general rule so it must be followed .
B. Because it makes the product appear original and effective .
C. Because it provides consumers with an estimation of how
much it costs.
D. Because it tells consumers how it will work.
