The document summarizes an experiment that models how soaps and hand sanitizers interact with viruses. Black pepper flakes on water represent virus particles. When soap is added, the nonpolar regions attract to the virus coating, pulling the structure apart. Hand sanitizer similarly interacts with viruses due to having both polar and nonpolar regions. Washing with soap is reported to be more effective than sanitizer alone against bacteria and viruses, which the experiment's observations support. Hand sanitizers would also be less effective than detergents for washing clothes due to differences in molecular structures.

1. WALAKIRA BRUNO
CHEMISTRY @ HAND.
MANDELA ENTERPRISES Ltd
QUALITY l VALUE.
INTERACTION OF DETERGENTS, DISINFECTION WITH VIRUS.
Background
The behavior of soaps and hand sanitizers is an application of the principle “like
dissolves like.” Polar molecules such as alcohols contain certain functional groups (-OH
in the case of alcohol) that are attracted to water, forming strong intermolecular
interactions. In contrast, nonpolar molecules such as oils and biomolecules (ex: fats,
proteins) are composed of hydrocarbon groups (-CxHy-), which are not attracted to
water. The active ingredients of soaps and hand sanitizers feature the best of both
worlds, with both polar and nonpolar regions in their molecular structures. As a result,
part of the molecule is attracted to organic molecules such as proteins and fats,
whereas the other part is attracted to water:
Objective
What happens when soaps and sanitizers interact with a virus? Since viruses are
coated with a variety of fats and proteins, the nonpolar regions of the soaps and

2. WALAKIRA BRUNO
CHEMISTRY @ HAND.
MANDELA ENTERPRISES Ltd
QUALITY l VALUE.
sanitizers are attracted to this coating, effectively pulling apart the virus structure. In this
activity, you will model this behavior.
Materials
 2 Small Paper sheets
 Tap Water
 Black Pepper (virus particles.)
 1 drop of Liquid Soap (0.125 mls)
 1 drop of Hand Sanitizer (0.125 mls)
Safety.
 Always wear safety goggles when handling chemicals in the lab.
 Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the lab.
 Follow the laboratory procedures for cleanup of materials and disposal of chemicals.
Procedure
1. Add tap water to two empty paper plates.
2. Sprinkle black pepper flakes onto the water surfaces.
3. A drop of soap to the first plate. Describe your observations in the data table below,
using the “like dissolves like” principle.
4. Drop hand sanitizer to the second plate. Describe your observations in the data table
below, using the same principle.
Observations
HERE IS WHAT TO DISCUSS.
1. Describe how your observations of the soap differed from your observations of the hand
sanitizer.

3. WALAKIRA BRUNO
CHEMISTRY @ HAND.
MANDELA ENTERPRISES Ltd
QUALITY l VALUE.
2. It is widely reported that washing your hands with soap is more effective against
bacteria and viruses than using hand sanitizer alone. Is this premise plausible based on
what you observed in the activity?
3. . Explain why hand sanitizers would not be as effective as detergents to clean your
clothes in washing machines. Using the structures of soap and detergents.
REFERENCE;
Some information was source sourced from somewhere.
AURTHER: Eng; WALAKIRA BRUNO
Bsc in INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY KAMPALA - 2016
QUALITY CONTROL ANALYST
MWIRU HOLDINGS SMC Ltd. (LA VILLE)