Soaps are generally biodegradable, but some synthetic detergents resist breakdown by microorganisms and accumulate in water bodies. What causes this difference in biodegradability?

Answer: Soaps have unbranched hydrocarbon chains that microbial enzymes break down readily, unlike branched detergent chains.

• A Soaps are made in much smaller industrial batches, which limits how much accumulates in water bodies under typical physiological conditions
• B Soaps have unbranched hydrocarbon chains that microbial enzymes break down readily, unlike branched detergent chains
• C Detergents carry no charge on their hydrophilic head, so they cannot interact with bacterial cell membranes according to standard texts
• D Soaps dissolve in water at a faster rate, which removes them from the environment before bacteria can act in general clinical practice