Name: Module Title:

Module No. 11 Uses of other cleaning agents

Subject:
Physical Science

Introduction

Hi! Have you washed your dishes this morning? Or cleaned your floors, windows and toilets
because you can’t bear to see dirt in your house? Cleaning agents plays an essential role in our
everyday living. They are also known as hardsurface cleaners perhaps you have them in your
home! Well, in this Module, you will be able to identify the common ingredients in cleaning
agents together with their uses and you are encouraged to keep up with the available resources
(cleaning products) at home and look for the ingredients written on the product. Where the
ingredients come from? How the ingredients should be handled, what are its precautionary
measures? Is the chemical natural or synthetically derived? Learning is exciting! Let’s go!
Objectives:

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Identify the common ingredients (other than active ingredient) in cleaning agents and
their uses. Learn About it!
Activity 1: What I know?

Let us check your prior knowledge from your past lesson about active ingredients in product
labels by answering the questions below. Choose and encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. They are vessels where amphipathic molecules form

a. micelles b. surfactants c. bleach d. disinfectant
2. What is the active ingredient for a product that removes stains from clothes?
a. Sodium hypochlorite b. Sulfuric acid c. Sodium hydroxide d. Sodium chloride
3. A common way to remove clogs and tissue wastes is using a certain product available in
supermarkets that has strong basic corrosive properties. What is the active ingredient of this
product?
a. Sodium hydroxide b. Hot water c. Sodium hypochlorite d. Sodium chloride
4. A certain product is used in removing rusts from metal surfaces. It has similar properties to
that of vinegar and has disinfecting properties. What can be concluded about the active
ingredients of the product? The active ingredients is ____
a. a surfactant that can form micelles.
b. basic and can be used to disinfect swimming pools.
c. acidic and can be used to remove stains from clothes.
d. neutral and can be used as food condiment.
5. A common mode of action based on the principle of like-dissolves-like and the concept of
solvent – solute interactions.
a. Reduction – Oxidation b. Acid – Base c. Disinfectant d. Surfactants
6. What is the BEST function for sodium alkyl sulfonates, amphipathic molecules that form
micelles?
a. digests toilet papers stuck in drains c. removes odors from clothes
b. removes grease stains d. removes rust from metal pipes
7. Before a product gets approved for distribution, it will need accreditation from the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources) and Department of Health. The product _____
a. could pose a threat to health and environment.
b. is expensive and will need government agencies to fund it.
c. will need to come from government regulated agencies or divisions.
d. can only be distributed by government regulated agencies or divisions.
8. Bleeding gums indicate a defective oral and personal care or presence of bacteria. Dentists
recommend gargling with a warm solution of salt and water. By what mode of action does this
solution of salt and water enhance oral hygiene?
a. disinfectant b. acid-base c. surfactant d. dissolution
9. An epidemic that started has caused a shortage of disinfectants such as soap, agua oxinada,
and ethanol. You recently sustained an open wound from tripping and now in danger of getting
infected. Which of the following products is BEST used to treat and disinfect the wound?
a. water b. muriatic acid (HCl) c. citric acid in lemons d. sodium hydroxide
10.The directional use of a certain insecticide states that the room in which the insecticide was
sprayed should be kept clear from humans and pets for an hour. What could be concluded
about the active ingredient of the product? The active ingredient
a. has strong acidic properties that are sensitive for human smell.
b. once becomes aerosol can be toxic to all biological organisms.
c. is a surfactant that can form micelles.
d. is a disinfectant that kills all microorganisms.

House cleaning is a very challenging task that we all have to do

some time. The reason of cleaning and organizing our house is
Uses of Other
to make it more peaceful place to stay and relax. If you clean
Ingredients in
regularly and effectively, your house as it will always look as
Cleaning
good as new. To achieve this, we used different cleaning agents
Agents
that makes our house clean.

Activity 2: THINK!

Now, you have already identified active ingredients in the different common cleaning agent used
at home. This activity will help you understand more about the cleaning agents. Direction: Write
terms that are related to CLEANING AGENT. Add more connectors if necessary.

Guide Questions:
1. Can you identify and name the other ingredients written in a cleaning product?
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. What do you think are the uses of the other ingredients?
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
 Activity 3: UNLOCK THE PICTURES!

Direction: Unlock the meaning behind the rebus (pictogram). An example below is given to fully
understand the activity.
Guide Questions:
1. What do you think are the words you unlocked from the rebus (pictogram)?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Where can we usually find those ingredients?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you know any cleaning ingredient? If yes, give an example?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Activity 4: THE CLEANER THE BETTER!

Handwashing remains No. 1 in preventing the spread of Coronavirus (Covid19). It is common

sense and it works!
Now, do the following:
 List down at least five (5) cleaning agents that you think can help prevent the spread of
Corona Virus (Covid-19).
1
2
3
4
5
.
Guide questions:
1. Do you think the cleaning agent in your list can prevent the virus? Why? If yes, support your
answer.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. What cleaning agents do you use during handwashing and what makes it good to be a
cleaning agent?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

A cleaning agent is a mixture of many compounds. They are considered an additive

ingredient. These additive ingredients have some functions in the product. Some ingredients are
added to mixtures while others have more complex mechanisms.
Some functions of additive ingredients include: surfactants, builders, solvents, enzymes,
fragrance enhancers, preservatives, antimicrobial agents/antibacterial, pH adjuster, dyes,
thickener, and bubble enhancers.
a. Surfactant is the primary component of cleaning detergents. It stirs up activity on
the surface you are cleaning to help trap dirt and remove from the surface.
Surfactants are found in any shampoo, multi-surface sprays, glass cleaners, toilet
bowl cleaners, and hand cleaners.
b. Builders - these ingredients are mineral salts that increase the cleaning power by
raising the alkalinity or pH of a product. Builders are used in cleaning products when
we want to clean oily solid from surfaces. Functions are for softening, buffering, and
emulsifying. Example: Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate)
c. Solvent - chemicals that help ingredients stay mixed and give cleaning products the
right thickness so they are easy to use. It helps to decrease the viscosity, “meaning
the liquid will move faster when poured out of the bottle”. Cleaning solvent is used to
remove oil, grease, solder flux and other contamination. Solvents are present in
many common cleaning products including; degreasers, furniture dusting, tub and tile
cleaner, glass cleaners.
Examples:
 Strong Cleaning Solvent
 Acetone, Methyl ethyl ketone, Toluene, Trichloroethylene
 Common Cleaning Solvent
 Isopropyl alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene glycol
d. Enzymes - chemical compounds or catalysts that create reactions in other matter
and in the cleaning industry, they breakdown substances so they can be easily
rinsed or removed. It also removes tough spots, preconditioning traffic lanes and
odor control.
e. Fragrances - added to cleaning products to improve their smell and it can be
botanical or synthetic. Most of the fragrances are synthetically made. Only low
fragrance concentrations are needed to alter the smell of a product (3% of fabric
softeners).

f. A preservative is a substance added to a cleaning product in order to make it stable

and safe for a longer period of time. Its functions are to extend the shelf life of the
product. If preservative were not used, many products would only last a matter of
weeks. Prevents mold from growing. Minimizes odor formation and discoloration.
Prevent contamination by the consumer during ease.
Examples of Quiet Toxic Preservatives:
 Parabens - endocrine disruptor, which means they mimic estrogen, a hormone in
our bodies.
 Formaldehyde -a known carcinogen. Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde. If
someone in your home smokes tobacco products, the smoke may be the greatest
source of formaldehyde in your home. Formaldehyde levels are higher in new
manufactured wood products such as flooring and furniture in some fabrics
 Triclosan - is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is a polychloro phenoxy
phenol. It is widely used as a preservative and antimicrobial agent in personal care
products such as soaps, skin creams, toothpaste and deodorants as well as in
household items such as plastic chopping boards, sports equipment and shoes.
 Antibacterial or Disinfectants are compounds that interfere the growth and
reproduction of bacteria and can be used to disinfect surface in the home. Added to
some soap, detergents, skincare products and household cleaners.
g. pH Adjusters - pH readings make it possible to determine whether a solution is
acidic or alkaline. Phosphates are used to adjust alkalinity in order to help dissolve
dirt. The higher the pH level, the better the cleaning effect. The most commonly used
neutralization chemicals for acid or base neutralization are 98% Sulfuric acid and
50% Sodium hydroxide.
Additional Ingredients:
h. Dyes are sometimes used to give a product a color. This can make a product more
appealing to a shopper at the store.
 i. Thickeners give soap the proper viscosity (thickness), making sure it can flow out of
a bottle slowly enough to avoid spills. Can you imagine trying to wash your hands
with soap that feels like water? It would run right off your skin!
j. Foam Enhancers allow detergents to do their job more effectively by enhancing the
covered area of the surfactant. The formation of foam/bubbles facilitates the
surfactant by aiding in the accumulation of unwanted particles.

Activity 5: FILL IN!

Directions: Answer the table below by writing the possible effects of hazardous ingredient in a
certain product.

Activity 6: CROSSWORD PUZZLE!

Direction: Fill in the crossword puzzle about the common ingredients discussed in this module.
You will be guided by the following sentences numbered below.
Down
1. A primary components of cleaning detergents.
5. It breaks down fat molecules like oils and grease.
8. It is how we measure if a solution is acidic or basic.
9. It provides a further reduction in germs on our hands or surfaces in our homes.
10. It gives color to a product.
Across
2. It is added to cleaning compound to upgrade and protect the cleaning efficiency of the
surfactants.
3. An example of a common cleaning solvent.
7. A quite toxic group of preservative, endocrine disruptors, which mean they mimic estrogen, a
hormone in our bodies.
11. It gives the cleaning material like the soap the proper viscosity.
12. It was created by foam enhancer.
UP
6. It is added to cleaning products to improve their smell.
Let’s Practice!
Part A.
Direction: Suffice your answer from the word bank below and fill it on the space provided in
every sentence.
1. ___________________ added to cleansing agents, like detergent, allow the detergent to
mix into water, helping cleaning agents remove dirt from the surface being cleaned.
2. ___________________ are used in cleaning products when we want to clean oily soil
from surfaces.
3. Solvents help to ___________________ the viscosity, meaning the liquid will move faster
when poured out of the bottle.
4. ___________________ removes tough spots and odor control.
5. Fragrance improves the ___________________ of the cleaning products.
6. ___________________ extend the shelf life of a product.
7. ___________________ used to raise or lower the pH of solutions making it either more
basic or acidic.
8. Dyes make a product more appealing as it gives the product a ___________________.
9. Thickeners give a cleaner and ___________________ on the surface after drying.
10.The true purpose of ___________________ is to provide contact time on soiled surface
to allow the cleaning agents enough time to do their jobs.
Part B.
Direction: Read carefully and answer the questions below. Choose and encircle the letter of the
best answer.
1. What is the additive ingredient exclusively found in detergents?
a. solvent b. masking agent c. builder d. fragrance enhancers
2. Ethanol is sold at 40% or 70% solution. Which of the following is an additive for ethanol?
a. water b. triclosan c. sodium tripolyphosphate d. aldehydes
3. Which of the following acts as a preservative?
a. aldehydes b. ethanol c. sodium tripolyphosphate d. triclosan
4. Sodium hypochlorite and water are components of liquid bleach. liquid bleach can
remove stains and is considered a disinfectant. What is the function of water?
a. antimicrobial agent b. masking agent c. solvent d. bubble enhancer
5. A product that is used as a laundry detergent was found to be ineffective in an area
wherein a certain factory releases calcium ion in a nearby river. What kind of additive is
the detergent missing?
a. builders b. masking agent c. fragrance enhancer d. solvent
6. . A certain product used for removing rust in pipes has a pungent smell. What kind of
additive ingredient can be added to improve the product?
a. solvent b. builder c. masking agent d. antimicrobial agent
7. Antimicrobial soaps are more expensive compared to standard regular soaps. They
contain triclosan, an effective antimicrobial agent. Though soaps can generally kill
microbes, the presence of antimicrobials targets disease inducing bacteria. Where would
you most likely find antimicrobial soaps?
a. schools b. hospitals c. museums d. malls
8. The active ingredient of a certain product is only function at basic pH. What kind of
additive is needed in order to keep the product function?
a. preservatives (buffers) b. builders c. ethanol solvent d. fragrance enhancer
9. A new product that claims to be an all-natural bathroom buffer was tested. It was able to
fulfil its function. However, a few days later, the product developed a putrid smell and
ceased to function. What kind of additive ingredient is needed to improve the product?
a. masking agent b. preservatives c. solvent d. fragrance enhancers
10. A certain individual purchases a scented floor buffer X. After his first use, he found that
he is allergic to the floor buffer. The next day, he proceeds to buy a floor buffer Y.
However, he still experiences the same allergic reactions. Upon investigation, the only
common factor between the two floor buffers are their active ingredients. What
conclusion can be made? He is allergic to_____
a. active ingredient of the floor buffers. c. fragrance of the floor buffer.
 b. additive ingredient of both floor buffers. d. making agent of both floor buffers.
11. What cleaner is BEST for glass?
a. cleanser with ammonia b. bubble enhancers c. aerosol spray d. preservatives
12. The following are functions of additive ingredients EXCEPT:
a. serve as disinfectant for hygienic purposes c. enhance or mask a specific
property
b. it can remove stains, ranging from acid-base d. protect the active ingredient from
attacking other molecules
13. Which among the following help create suds or bubbles?
a. foam enhancer b. parabens c. thickeners d. builders
14. Fragrances are added to cleaning products to improve the smell. It can be botanical or
synthetic. Pair each botanical fragrances to its corresponding synthetic fragrances.
a. cedar: terpenes b. citronella: esters c. spearmint: aldehydes d. wintergreen:
aromatic
15. A known preservative added to cleaning product in order to make it stable and safe for
longer period of time. However, some are quiet toxic which is an endocrine disruptor,
means they mimic estrogen, a hormone in or bodies.
a. Parabens b. Triclosan c. Formaldehyde d. Enzymes