Senior High School

Physical Science
Quarter 3 - Module 8
Active Ingredient(s) of Cleaning
Products Used at Home
Use of the Other Ingredients
in Cleaning Agents

What I Need To Know

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 This module helps you understand the properties and mode of action of the consumer
products.
The module consists of two (2) lessons namely:
• Lesson 1 - Active ingredients in Cleaning Products Used at Home
• Lesson 2 - Use of the other Ingredients in cleaning Agents

After going through this module, you are expected to:

• From product labels, identify the active ingredient(s) of cleaning products used at home
S11/12PS-IIIi-j-31; and
• give the use of the other ingredients in cleaning agents S11/12PS-IIIi-j-32.

Physical Science
Q3 Module 8
Active Ingredient(s) of Cleaning Products
Lesson 1 Used at Home
Home is our haven especially when we are so
tired in our whole day work in school or office. In this
time of pandemic, the cleanliness of our home is very
important. Good housekeeping requires high standard
of cleanliness or the absence of dirt and its sanitation
as well, or the absence of disease-causing organisms
like bacteria. All housekeeping tasks need the use of
the right tool for the right job.
No single product can provide optimum
performance on all surfaces and all soils. It is not
surprising that many different household cleaners are
available in the market. They are formulated to clean
efficiently and conveniently in many different
situations found at home.
Chemical reaction occurs when there is enough energy between reactants and creates
products. The reaction can increase or decrease temperature which is one of the reasons that
cleaning household products can burn skin or cause irritation.

What’s In
Activity 1: Will it Works?

Look at least two (2) cleaning products available in your home. Apply it as to how it is used. Record
your observations on how fast it works according to its use on the table below.

Name of Cleaning Product Observations

1.
2.

Note: Be very careful in handling the household cleaning products.

What’s New
Activity 1.2: Fruity Agents
Direction: Aside from being our food, give the other use of these fruits/vegetables. Explain why these
fruits/vegetables could be useful as cleaning materials or agents. “Fruits/ Vegetables as Cleaning
Agents”

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 Fruits/vegetables Use
1. Calamansi
2.Tomatoes
3. Papaya

What is It
Active Ingredients of Cleaning Products Used at Home

There are lots of cleaning products we use daily in our home, office, or school.
These cleaning products play an important vital role in order to make our home
spick and span. They also help in safely and effectively removing dirt, germs and
other contaminants. They can also prevent the spread of infectious diseases and
control allergens, such as dust and mold, in order to keep us healthy. Cleaning
products also enable us to care for our homes and possessions.

There are different kinds of cleaning products. These are laundry detergents,
bleaches, dishwashing products and other household cleaners. Active ingredients are
found in different household cleaning products. They may give different side effects to
human. They can give either positive or negative side effects to us. So before using
these cleaning materials be sure to read first the instructions. Don’t forget to follow all
precautionary and safety measures before using them. Here are some of the active
ingredients found in different cleaning materials we use at home.

1. Alcohol Ethoxylate (AE)

Alcohol ethoxylates are a class of compounds that are commonly used throughout many industrial
practices and commercial markets. These compounds are synthesized via the reaction of a fatty
alcohol and ethylene oxide, resulting in a molecule that consists of two main components, (1) the
oleophilic, carbon-rich, fatty alcohol and (2) the hydrophilic, polyoxymethylene chain.

Alcohol ethoxylate surfactants enhance the mixing and solubilization of oil and water by having these
contrasting sections within the same compound. With this unique structure, a single molecule can
inhabit the interface of two immiscible phases (i.e. oil and water), effectively bringing them closer
together and lowering the interfacial energy associated between them.

Because these compounds are surfactants, they can be used whenever oily substances encounter
water or a surface. It can be used as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, degreasers and
emollients in many lines of commercially available products and industrial practices.

2. Sodium Alkyl Sulfates

Sodium alkyl sulfate are members of alkyl sulfates. They are water-soluble and can form soap
bubbles. The chemical formula is CnH2n+1OSO2ONa.

It can be used in detergents, dish washing liquids, shower gels, shampoos, hair conditioners and
fabric softeners. It can also be used as fire extinguishing agent, because it is not flammable. In the
cosmetic industry it is used as an emulsifier to mix oily and water-soluble compounds for toothpaste
or moisturizing products. It can produce irritating vapors when heated, consisting of carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and others. As all detergents it can irritate skin and eyes. If
swallowed, it will cause nausea or vomiting.

3. Amine Oxide
An amine oxide, also known as amine-N-oxide and N-oxide, is a chemical compound that contains
the functional group R3N+–O−, an N–O bond with three additional hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon side
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chains attached to Long-chain alkyl amine oxides are used as nonionic surfactants and foam
stabilizers.

Amine oxides are highly polar molecules and have a polarity close to that of quaternary ammonium
salts. Small amine oxides are very hydrophilic and have an excellent water solubility and a very poor
solubility in most organic solvents.

4. Ammonia
Ammonia is a colorless, soluble alkali gas that occurs naturally in the environment. It is a chemical
containing one nitrogen and three hydrogen atoms bonded together. It was traditionally used in many
household cleaners, though today it's still found in glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaners, and smelling
salts. When used in cleaning compounds, it’s called “household ammonia.”

Ammonia fumes are powerful irritant, potentially harming your skin, eyes, nose, lungs and throat.
When found in oven cleaners and window cleaning formulations, it is an irritant to the mucous
membranes. When working with ammonia, wearing heavy-duty gloves, goggles, and a face mask are
smart precautions to protect your health.

5. Sodium hypochlorite
Sodium hypochlorite also known as bleach is another alkali disinfectant. Bleach works by oxidizing or
breaking down the molecular bonds of stains and germs.

Another useful but dangerous cleaner it also has strong corrosive properties that may do serious
damage to the human body. Ammonia and bleach are a particularly dangerous combination, creating
potentially deadly gases when mixed. Never store these two chemicals in the same place.

Bleach in the bottle is generally a five percent solution. Toxic chlorine gas can be formed if bleach is
mixed with acids, such as bowl cleaners.

6. Ethanol
Ethanol is a natural byproduct of plant fermentation and can be produced through the hydration of
ethylene. It mixes easily with water and many organic compounds, and makes an effective solvent
for use in paints, lacquers and varnish, as well as personal care and household cleaning products.

Ethanol is highly flammable and should not be used near open flames. Ethanol inhalation can cause
coughing or headaches.
7. Phenol
Phenol, any of a family of organic compounds characterized by a hydroxyl (―OH) group attached to
a carbon atom that is part of an aromatic ring. Besides serving as the generic name for the entire
family, the term phenol is also the specific name for its simplest member, monohydroxybenzene
(C6H5OH), also known as benzenol, or carbolic acid.

Phenols are similar to alcohols but form stronger hydrogen bonds. They are more soluble in water
than are alcohols and have higher boiling points. Phenols occur either as colorless liquids or white
solids at room temperature and may be highly toxic and caustic.

Phenols are widely used in household products and as intermediates for industrial synthesis. For
example, phenol itself is used (in low concentrations) as a disinfectant in household cleaners and in
mouthwash. Phenol may have been the first surgical antiseptic. In 1865 the British surgeon Joseph
Lister used phenol as an antiseptic to sterilize his operating field.

8. Quaternary ammonium
The quaternary ammonium compounds (or quats) are a family of low-level disinfectants (according to
Spaulding) with most quats being derived from benzalkonium. Quats are reacted to provide a variety
of chain lengths and molecular structures so that the mix of quats used in the disinfectant provide a
wider range of efficacy than a single chain.
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Quats are generally used to disinfect countertops, toilets and other high touch environmental
surfaces and floors. Quaternary ammonium compounds are cationic disinfectants. This means the
quats chain carries a positive (plus) charge on one end of the molecule; many soils and
soaps/detergents carry an anionic or negative (minus) charge.

Quats can also bind with, or be absorbed by, materials and fibers including cotton (e.g., cleaning
rags and mops). Quats generally take 3-10 minutes to disinfect and should be used with cleaning
tools that are tested to be compatible.

9. Sodium percarbonate.
Sodium percarbonate is a powder that releases hydrogen peroxide, and very concentrated. It is a
granulated powder which can be nice for scrubbing stains and stuck-on-gunk off dishes. Scouring
powder is made from hydrogen peroxide. It can be made into a paste, too, and used on tile grout and
tough stains.

In using this product, follow and read the instructions carefully. Be very careful in handling all
household cleaning products.

What’s More
Activity 1.3: Product Exploration
Direction: With your cleaning products available at hand, read the product information
on the packaging. Fill out what is ask on the table below using the product information. During the
activity, observe the products with caution, particularly in smelling and touching as they may have
harmful effects upon contact. Write your answer on a separate sheet.

List of Product Active/Major Guidelines in Precautions in

Description Ingredient Using the Using the
Product
product product
Bleach
(DO NOT TEACH with
BARE HANDS)

Detergent soap

Dishwashing
liquid

Toilet bowl
cleaner

After filling up the table, check the common active ingredients present in all cleaning
products.

What I Have Learned

Activity 1.4: Product Discovery
Directions:
1.With the following ingredients, specify their use as household cleaning materials.
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 a. garlic
b. onion
c. salt
d. vinegar
2.What properties they possessed to be considered as cleaning products.
3. Explain why these are useful not only as ingredients but also as household cleaning products.
4. Take all the necessary care in doing the activity.
5. Wear necessary gears in performing the activity.
6. Write your output in a separate sheet of paper.

“Ingredients as Household Cleaning Products”

Ingredients Uses Properties

Garlic
Onion
Salt
Vinegar

What I Can Do
Activity 1.5: Jingle

Direction: Compose a jingle related to the topic active ingredients of cleaning agents. Write your
output in a separate sheet of paper.
Rubrics
Criteria Excellent (5pts) Merit (3pts) Achieved (2pts) Needs Improvement Score
(1pt)

Content Information are clearly presented Information are Information is clear Information is unclear and
and ordered in such a way that it clearly presented Order of information written in random order
brings a full picture of the material and ordered does not clearly show
Creativity It is visually inviting and easy to Visually inviting Visually pleasing and Readable
read and easy to read readable
Spelling All spelling and grammar are Some spelling Some spelling Notable spelling and
and correct and grammar and grammar grammar error
Grammar error error

Punctualit Submitted after the

y Submitted on time Submitted on time Submitted on time deadline
TOTAL

Assessment
Direction: Write T if statement is true and F if the statement is false and choose the word or
set of words that make it incorrect. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Sodium percarbonate is a granulated powder that can be used in scrubbing stains.

2. Alcohol Ethoxylate are being synthesized through the reaction of a fatty alcohol and ethylene
oxide.
3. Quaternary ammonium are compounds that belong to the family of high-level disinfectants.
4. Sodium alkyl sulfate are water-soluble sulfates that can form soap bubbles.
5. Phenols form stronger hydrogen bonds and more soluble in water than alcohols.

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6. Small amine oxides are very hydrophilic and have an excellent water solubility.
7. Bleach is the other name for sodium hypochlorite.
8. Alcohol ethoxylate is an alkyl sulfate that enhances the mixing and solubilization of oil and
water.
9. Quat is a powder that releases hydrogen peroxide which can be used for scrubbing stains.
10. Ethanol is a byproduct of plant fermentation and produced through the hydration of ethylene.

Physical Science
Q3 Module 8
Use of the Other Ingredients in Cleaning
Lesson 2 Agents

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In cooking, there are many interpretations of some dishes. But when one or two ingredients are
lacking, the food that you will eat will not be delicious as what you expect. The same with the
cleaning products. It is not only the active ingredient that plays an important role in cleaning agent
but also the other ingredients.

What’s In
Cleaning products or agents are very helpful in maintaining our home a conducive place for
relaxation. They can remove dirt, dust, bad odor, and other contaminants present in every corner of
our home. They have different ingredients that suit to different cleaning products. Some can kill virus
and bacteria while being able to clean an area. Others contain ingredients that can remove grease or
oil on the surface. Most of the cleaning agents remove the foul odor in the surroundings.

What’s New
Activity 1.1: “What’s that Word?”
Cleaning products play an essential role in daily life. They can remove dirt and stains from our
clothes, dried on food from our dishes and even germs from our hands! Let’s learn more about the
chemistry that makes this happen. But before that let’s solve these jumbled words below to see what
our next lesson will be.
Direction: Arrange the following jumbled letters to form the words related to cleaning
agents/ingredients/products.
1. S N D H A __________________ 6. E C N A L ______________________
2. E A G S R E ___________________ 7. U E H S O _____________________
3. ITDR ____________________ 8. L H T E H A ____________________
4. S V U R I ____________________ 9. L A O H L C O __________________
5. T A B E I A C R ________________ 10. D I C A ____________________

What is It
Uses of the Other Ingredients in Cleaning Products

With the different household cleaning products that we have in the market today, we don’t know
which the best is to use in our household We assume that these cleaning products are safe to use. In
fact, many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic. They contain different ingredients that
are harmful to our health Together with the active ingredient there are other ingredients found in
cleaning agents. Let’s look at their uses.
1.Builders
Builders are one of the important group of ingredients that help make cleaning products better.
Builders give the surfactants a helping hand. They are found in several different kinds of products,
but you need less of them than you do surfactants.
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Builders help make the surfactant more powerful by reacting with stuff found in tap water. Water in
your home may contain minerals (such as calcium and magnesium). The more minerals in your
water, the “harder” the water is. It is not bad to have minerals in water, but it can leave white marks
on surfaces (like dishes). When calcium and magnesium are present in water, they will stop
surfactants from being able to do their job of removing soil.
Builders help prevent this by keeping the minerals out of the way of the surfactants. This leaves the
surfactants alone to focus on the soil.
2. Solvents
Solvents are chemicals that help ingredients stay mixed and gives cleaning products the right
thickness, so they are easy to use. In addition, solvents can help to prevent liquid products from
freezing in cold climates.
Without solvents, a product will be very thick. But for other products, we want the liquid to pour out of
the bottle. When we add solvents, we decrease the viscosity, meaning the liquid will move faster
when poured out of the bottle. The solvent also helps to makes sure we do not end up with a
separated solution like when you have pulp at the bottom of your glass of orange juice.
3. Enzymes
Enzymes are powerful stain removing ingredients. Their power is to break down stains just like the
enzymes in our digestive system help break down the food we eat. Enzymes are not living organisms
but are created by naturally occurring microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi. In the laboratory, we
use carefully selected microorganisms and allow them to grow in a very controlled environment. As
they grow, they produce the desired enzymes.
4. Fragrances
Fragrances are a group of ingredients that provide the cleaning product with a pleasant smell. They
are not found in every product, and typically a very small amount can make a large difference in
smell. In many cases, the fragrance is the driving factor for why someone decided to buy a specific
product.
A fragrance is a mix of many different substances. These ingredients may be natural compounds
(that come from materials like flowers, fruit, trees, plants, or nuts), essential oils, or synthetic
compounds.
5.Preservatives
Just like it is important to prevent food from spoiling, cleaning products need to be preserved as well.
Adding a small amount of a preservative protects the product from microorganisms.
A preservative is a substance that is added to a cleaning product in order to make it stable and safe
for a longer period. Without a preservative, it is possible for bacteria or fungi to grow in the product.
This can cause the ingredients in the product (like surfactants and enzymes) to break down and not
work as well. Adding a preservative allows a cleaning product to stay on the shelf longer both in the
store and in your home.
6. pH Adjusters
Every cleaning product needs to be “balanced” to work well and to be safe for your skin. In order to
do this, chemists use pH adjusters to make sure the product is balanced and safe for you to use. The
amount used depends on the other ingredients in the formula.
pH is a measure of how acidic (like lemon juice) or basic (like baking soda) a solution is. One way to
measure this is by using the pH scale. The pH scale is read from 0 to 14 and tells us if a solution is
acidic or basic. Pure water has a pH of 7, which means it’s neutral.
pH adjusters are used in cleaning products to raise or lower the pH of a solution, making it either
more basic or acidic.
Chemists make sure that the product is effective while balancing safety, in part, by making sure the
pH will not be harmful if it touches your skin.
If the pH is less than 7, then the solution is acidic. Lemon juice has a pH around 2. Our skin is slightly
acidic, with a pH on average near 5. If our skin comes into contact with a chemical that is too acidic it
can cause itching or discomfort.
Adjusting the pH helps to keep the product working well as it gets old. It also affects how the product
cleans. For example, each surfactant has a different pH level in which they are the most powerful.
Therefore, a chemist may want to adjust the pH to that level.
If the pH is greater than 7, then the solution is basic. For example, baking soda has a pH of around 9.
If a solution is too alkaline (basic), it can also irritate your skin.
7.Dye

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There are several other ingredients used in cleaning products that help create a unique experience.
For example, dye can be used to give a product color.
8. Thickener
Thickeners give soap the proper viscosity (thickness), making sure it can still flow out of a bottle. Can
you imagine trying to wash your hands with a soap that feels like water? It would run right off your
skin!
9. Foam Enhancer
Foam Enhancers help create suds or bubbles. While not necessary for effective cleaning, many
people feel bubbles show that a product is working.
10. Antibacterial or Disinfecting Ingredients
Cleaning washes away germs with any dirt and soil that is removed, but a further reduction of germs
can be achieved by using additional ingredients that will kill germs.
Antibacterial or disinfecting ingredients can be included in a cleaning or hand hygiene product or
used separately after cleaning. Their use provides a further reduction in germs on our hands or
surfaces in our homes. This reduction of germs helps to prevent people from getting sick when
commonly used surfaces, such as door handles, or our hands are cleansed using these products. In
environments with sick individuals or where food is prepared, this is especially important.
There are many different types of antibacterial or disinfecting ingredients. Depending on the chosen
ingredient used in a product, it may be more effective on certain microbes that make us sick like
bacteria, viruses or mold.

What’s More
Activity 1.2 “A Powerful Tool”
Direction: Make a short poem about the use of other ingredients found in household cleaning
products incorporating your answers in Activity 1.1.
Rubrics
Criteria Excellent (4pts) Merit (3pts) Achieved (2pts) Needs Improvement Score
(1pt)
Content Information are clearly Information are Information is clear Information is unclear
presented and ordered in clearly presented and written in random
Order of information
such a way that it brings and ordered order
does not clearly
a full picture of the
show
material
Creativity It is visually inviting and Visually inviting Visually pleasing Readable
easy to read and easy to read and readable
Spelling All spelling and grammar Some spelling Some spelling Notable spelling and
and are correct and grammar and grammar grammar error
Grammar error error
Submitted on time Submitted on Submitted on time Submitted after the
Punctuality
time deadline

TOTAL
Highest possible score: (4x4)/4= 4 components

What I Have Learned

Activity 1.3 “Puzzled Ingredient”

Direction: Find in the puzzle the given words below.

Adjuster Builders Enhancer Dye

Enzyme Fragrance Disinfectant pH
Preservative Solvents

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 E N H A N C E R T B S F
S E A R B C N Y A U E R
M O F I G H Z B X I J A
O C L C L M Y Z C L O G
N P T V A S M D U D R R
J S B D E R E V E E T A
U P E S W N S F T R Z N
I H Y A I O T S G S B C
C A D J U S T E R E J E
D I S I N F E C T A N T
P R E S E R V A T I V E

What I Can Do

Activity 1.4 “A Safe Environment”

Direction: With your knowledge on the different ingredients of cleaning products, make a poster on
safe storage and use of the different cleaning agents. Write a short description of your work.
Rubrics
Criteria Excellent (4pts) Merit (3pts) Achieved (2pts) Needs Improvement Score
(1pt)
Content Information are Information are Information is Information is
clearly presented clearly clear unclear and written
and ordered in presented and in random order
Order of
such a way that it ordered information
brings a full does not clearly
picture of the show
material
Creativity It is visually Visually Readable
Visually inviting
inviting and easy pleasing and
and easy to read
to read readable
All spelling and Some spelling Some spelling
Spelling and Notable spelling and
grammar are and grammar and grammar
Grammar grammar error
correct error error
Submitted on Submitted on Submitted after the
Punctuality
Submitted on time time time deadline
TOTAL
Highest possible score: (4x4)/4= 4 components

Assessment
Direction: Write the letter that match the different ingredients of cleaning agents with their
uses.
Use Ingredients
____1. Washes away germs with any dirt A. Antibacterial
____2. Give surfactants a helping hand B. Builders

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____3. Create suds or bubbles C. Dye
____4. cleaning agents the right thickness D. Enzymes
____5. Making the product balanced E. Foam enhancer
____6. Powerful stain removing ingredient F. Fragrance
____7. Protects products from microorganism G. pH
____8. Provide product with a pleasant smell H. pH adjuster
____9. Helps keep minerals out of way I. Preservatives
____10. Prevents products from freezing J. Solvents
____11. Mix of many different substances
____12. Allows cleaning product to stay longer
____13. Measures how a solution is acid or base
____14. Helps create a new experience
____15. Prevent people from getting sick

Answer Key

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LESSON 1

What’s In What’s New What’s More

Answers may vary depending
on the available cleaning
products
Use: Answers may vary depending on
Calamansi- (Bleach) the available cleaning products
removes stain and odor
Tomatoes- Clean metals
Papaya- Stain Remover

What I Have Learned What I Can Do Assessment

Use:
1. Garlic- Disinfectant, Cleaning Answers may vary 1. T
tops depending on the insight of 2. T
2. Onion- Remove rust the learner 3. F- low
3. Salt- Scouring agent 4. T
4. Vinegar- Disinfectant, remove 5. T
dirt and grease 6. T
7. T
Properties: 8. F- Alkyl Sulfate
1.Garlic- Allicin 9. F- Quat
2. Onion- Sulphasillic acid 10. T
3. Salt- Ionic in nature
4. Vinegar- Acetic acid

LESSON 2

What’s New What’s More What I Can Do

1.Hands 6. Clean Answers may vary. Answers may vary.
2. Grease 7. House Refer to the rubrics for Refer to the rubrics for scoring.
3. Dirt 8. Health scoring.
4. Virus 9. Alcohol
5. Bacteria 10. Acid

What I Have Learned Assessment

1. A
2. B
3. E
4. J
5. H
6. D
7. I
8. F
9. B
10. J
11. F
12. I
13. G
14. C
15. A

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References
Website:
“Amine oxide”, Accessed July 17, 2020,
https://www.clinisciences.com/en/buy/cat-amine-oxides-1830.html
“Chem 101: What you need to know about active ingredients?”, Accessed May 20, 2020,
cleanlink.com. https://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/Chem-101-What-youneed-to-know-
about-active-ingredients--372
“Chemicals Found in Household Products Chapter 6, Lesson 1”, Accessed May 20, 2020,
study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/chemicals-found-inhousehold-
products.html
‘Ethanol”, Accessed July 17, 2020, https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/ethanol/
“Phenol”, Accessed July 17, 2020, https://www.britannica.com/science/phenol
“Sodium alkyl sulfate”, Accessed July 17, 22020,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_alkyl_sulfate
“What is Alcohol Ethoxylate?”, Accessed July 17,2020, https://www.oxiteno.us/what-is-
alcohol-ethoxylateuses/#:~:text=Alcohol%20ethoxylates%20are%20a%20class,industrial
%20practices %20and%20commercial%20markets.&text=Alcohol%20ethoxylate
%20surfactants% 20enhance%20the,sections%20within%20the%20same%20compound.
“Baking Soda”, Accessed July 21, 2020,
https://oconto.extension.wisc.edu/files/2011/02/Baking-
Soda.pdf#:~:text=Cleaning%3A%20Baking%20Soda%20acts%20a%20cleaning%20a gent
%20because,for%20easy%20removal%20as%20a%20gentle%20scouring%20po wder.
“Ingredients”, Accessed July 22, 2020, https://explorationclean.org/ingredients
Commission on Higher Education. Teaching Guide for Senior High School: Physical
Science.Book.https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B869YF0KEHr7SHFGVG5mVFFhcX
c/view. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

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