and why is it in toothpast,soap,? I heard its not good for your body is there other products out there.
2007-06-13 07:46:35 · 2 answers · asked by KAT 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Lauryl sulfate is a monoester of lauryl alcohol, CH3(CH2)10CH2-OH. It's usually the sodium salt. CH3(CH2)10CH2-O-SO2-O- Na+. Laureth sulfate is lauryl alcohol that has been treated with ethylene oxide to put a small but indefinite number of oxyethylene groups on the end. The product of that reaction is made into a sulfate monoester and used as the sodium salt. CH3(CH2)10CH2-O-(CH2CH2)n-O-SO2-O- Na+.
There's nothing to be alarmed about. They're detergents that are milder than others. You don't eat soap or swallow much toothpaste. Also, they're biodegradable. Bacteria eat off the oxyethylene groups, then the lauryl alcohol, two carbons at a time.
2007-06-13 08:09:11 · answer #1 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's a surfactant aka soap made from the sulfonation of 12 carbon alkyl chain. (lauryl == dodecyl) It's not "that" bad for you, although the "Natural" products advocates will tell you it is as a marketing ploy.
2007-06-13 08:05:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋