Soap is made from oil or animal fat reacting with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, while detergent is made from petroleum reacting with sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The main differences between soap and detergent are their source materials, examples of specific compounds, and molecular structures.

1. Soap
Soap

2. Detergent
Detergent is a salt that is formed from a reaction between alkyl
hydrogen sulphate with an alkali.
Detergent

3. Compare between soap and detergent
Soap Detergent
Oil/animal fat Petroleum
Sodium hydroxide/ Source Sulphuric acid
potassium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide/
potassium hydroxide
CH3(CH2)9CH2OSO3Na
Sodium palmitate Examples
Sodium stearate Sodium alkyl sulphate
Sodium laurate Sodium alklybenzene
sulphonate
Structure