What is the value of 'n' in 'Z' of the following sequence?
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Fatty alcohols and their derivatives, like sodium lauryl sulfate, are widely used in detergents and personal care products due to their surfactant properties. The length of the carbon chain determines the balance between foaming, solubility, and detergency.
This sequence refers to the molecular structure of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which is a commonly used surfactant. The value of 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms in the lauryl group. To solve this, we need to analyze the molecular structure and reaction steps. Step 1: Understanding the Structure The lauryl group is derived from lauryl alcohol, which is a fatty alcohol with a 12-carbon chain (C12H25OH). When this alcohol reacts to form sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the alcohol group reacts with sulfuric acid and then neutralizes with sodium hydroxide to form the sulfate salt. Step 2: Identifying the Carbon Chain Length After the reaction, the lauryl group has 10 carbon atoms, which is a characteristic feature of sodium lauryl sulfate. This happens because two carbon atoms are removed during the chemical synthesis. Step 3: The 'n' Value The value of 'n' in sodium lauryl sulfate refers to the number of carbon atoms in the lauryl group, which is now 10 after the synthesis process. Thus, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{10} \]
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