Grade

11
Self-Learning Module
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
in
AWARENESS AT HOME:
Lesson: ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BE KNOWN
(Active Ingredients of Cleaning Products)
Quarter: I Week: 8 Day and Time:

Learning competencies:
1. From product labels, identify the active ingredient(s) of cleaning products used at home
2. Give the use of the other ingredients in cleaning agents
Learning Tasks:
Study Notebook WORKSHEET Performance Task
 Pre-Test (1-2)  PAGE
 Post-Test (7-8)

I. INTRODUCTION
This learning module is developed and written with you as the primary purpose. It is crafted to
assist you in understanding chemical reactions. The coverage of this learning module can be used in a
different learning context. The learning episodes here are sequentially arranged to follow the curriculum
guide for Physical Science.

PRE-TEST
Choose the letter that corresponds to the best answer.

1. Which cleaning agent is used to dissolve water-insoluble substances like grease and oil from machines,
floors, tools, and hard surfaces?
A. Abrasives B. Degreasers C. Disinfectants D. Water
2. Which of the following is the most common type of cleaning agent found at home?
A. Acid B. Abrasives C. Degreaser D. Detergents
3. Which of the following cleaning agent is NOT an example of an acid?
A. Baking Soda B. Muriatic C. Oxalic D. Vinegar
4. What should you do to prevent any harm when using a cleaning product at home?
A. Buy one product only.
B. Patronize the most popular name of a product.
C. Check the cheapest product available in the market.
D. Carefully read the product information and instruction.
5. Which of the following is an example of a very mild acid?
A. Hydrochloric acid B. Oxalic Acid C. Sulfuric Acid D. Vinegar
6. What kind of poisonous gas is released when chlorine bleach and ammonia are mixed?
A. Carbon B. Chloramine C. Potassium D. Radon
7. What active ingredient can lower the surface tension of water?
A. Ammonia B. Builders C. Phenol D. Surfactant
8. It is a naturally occurring, colorless, and soluble alkali gas
A. Ammonia B. Bleach C. D-Limonene D. Hydrogen Peroxide

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9. Which is likely to happen if you are exposed to a large amount of phenol?
A. Diarrhea B. Cause damage liver C. Hemolytic anemia D. All the given choices
10. Which of the following is a highly effective anionic surfactant used to remove oily stains and residues?
A. Amine Oxide B. Alcohol Ethoxylate (AE)
C. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) D. Quaternary ammonium
___________________________________________________________________________
III. A. DISCUSSION OF CONCEPTS
Lesson 1 : Cleaning Agent/Products
Cleaning has been a part of our daily activities. It is one of the household chores that we do at
home and even in the school. In cleaning, we use various cleaning products that help us remove all the
soil, germs, and other contaminants a lot easier and quicker.
We use cleaning products to stop and prevent the spread of infectious diseases that lives in the
surfaces of a matter. It can also control the allergens such as dust and mold, helping us to stay healthy.

Understanding Cleaning Agents

A. WATER
Water is the most common, simple, and significant cleaning agent. Water alone is not an effective
cleanser. To be effective in cleaning, it must be in conjunction with other cleaning agents such as
detergent, soap, and other cleaning products. It can dissolve minerals and break up fats and oils.

Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/search/cartoon+water+bucket

B. DETERGENTS
Detergents are the most common type of agent
cleaning agent found at home.
It performs the things that cannot do by water alone.
One of its functions is to break up soil and dirt, making it
easier to wash away. It is harmless and comparatively
manageable in hard

Figure 2: Detergents
Source: https://zzexporter.com/products/household-chemicals cleaning-products/

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C. ABRASIVES
Abrasives are materials that remove dirt by rubbing or
scrubbing. They clean surfaces by creating friction that lifts off
hardened food particles, grease, tarnish, and stains.

Three types of abrasives

1.Physical abrasives which include Sandpaper, plastic and
nylon meshes, sourcing pad and steel-wool
Source: https://www.cozyberries.com/abrasive-cleaners/
2.Mineral abrasives like baking soda, powdered borax, and salt are all considered natural cleaners.
3.Chemical abrasives like sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione that often referred to as scouring powders
and are used to kill bacteria in addition to general surface cleaning.

Overuse of harsh abrasives cleaning products can gradually damage the surface of sinks, bathtubs,
and kitchen appliances.

D. DEGREASERS
Degreasers are a cleaning agent used to dissolve water-
insoluble substances like grease and oil from machines, floors, tools,
and hard surfaces. It contains chemicals or solvents designed to
cause a chemical reaction to change the state of the substance and
make it easier to remove.
It is composed of sodium metasilicate or caustic soda.
Sodium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate are examples of strong
alkalis which play a primary role in removing solid grease. During a
high level of cleaning, Alkalis ensure that pH is maintained. Sodium
carbonate not only provides a moderately high pH but also provides
buffering to maintain pH levels upon product dilution.
Source: https://pinoydeal.ph/other-deals/everything-else/multi-
purpoose-kitchen-degreaser-with-sanitizer_i30849

E. ACIDS
Acids are compound that contains Hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal and capable of
neutralizing alkalis. It should be used with extra care because they are strong and powerful cleaning agents.
Examples of acid:
Vinegar, a very mild acid can be used in cleaning oven. It removes hard water deposits from glassware.
Oxalic acid is a very strong acid. It is an effective rust remover and is very poisonous. Sometimes it is found
in toilet bowl cleaners.
Hydrochloric and sulfuric acid are powerful acid used as toilet bowl cleaners in dilute concentrations. It
can eat away clothing, leather, skin, and some metals. They can also irritate and injure the skin and eyes.

Source: https://www.hunker.com/13715264/
what-is-muriatic-acid-used-for

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F. ORGANIC SOLVENTS
Organic solvents are useful for dissolving certain materials and
substances, specifically used to remove grease and clean without
leaving a residue, particularly window cleaners and removal of finger
marks on walls. The main ingredient of these solvents is water making it
remove grease easily and is compatible with water.

Source: https://www.pjcplantservices.co.uk/shop/miscellaneous-
products/cleaning-decorating/cleaners-removers/pvcu-solvent-cleaner/

G. DISINFECTANTS
Disinfectants or antimicrobial agents are chemicals that contain
pine oil, sodium hypochlorite, quaternary ammonium compounds, and
phenols. It can kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces. These include disease-
causing strains of salmonella and staph bacteria.
It has a strong smell and used as recommended. It is used and
applied directly to non-porous surfaces, such as countertops, door and
cabinet handles, toilets, and other bathroom surfaces.
Examples of disinfectants for households used are Liquid chlorine
bleach, Quaternary ammonium compounds, and Pine oil cleaners.

Source: http://soapking.ph/product/
kingwash-liquid-disinfectant-cleaner/
H. SANITIZERS
Sanitizers are chemicals that reduce the number of germs and bacteria and are often
used in cleaning bathrooms and washing dishes, eating utensils, and cutting boards.
It also helps deodorize the surface and kill odor-producing microorganisms. It should
be used with caution and follow the directions on the bottle.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com
/how-to-disinfect-your-house#how-to-disinfect-food-

Active Ingredients of Cleaning Products Used at Home

A. Ammonia is a naturally occurring, colorless, and soluble alkali gas. It is commonly referred to as
"household ammonia" in cleaning compounds. It is regularly found in window and glass cleaners but
mostly produced to be a fertilizer. It is an irritant to the skin and eyes, and it may be dangerous when
consumed.

B. Bleach or sodium hypochlorite is another alkali disinfectant. It oxidizes or breaks

down the molecular bonds of stains and germs. It is packaged in the bottle as a 5
percent solution. If bleach is mixed with acids such as bowl cleaners, it forms toxic
chlorine gas. Chlorine generally is the most common bleach used in household
cleaning products.
NOTE: Mixing bleach and ammonia can be deadly. When combined, these two commons household cleaners
release toxic chloramine gas.

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 C. D-Limonene is the extracted oil from the citrus rind is a neutral compound. The straight d-limonene
can be used as a solvent. It can also be used as a rinseable cleaning solution when d-limonene is
combined with a surfactant.

D. Hydrogen peroxide is an acidic disinfectant used in a 3 percent solution as a skin antiseptic. It also
works as an oxidizer. It can also be used for the whitening of paper pulp and treating drinking water. Often,
it is combined with other disinfectants for greater efficacy.

E. Phenol is a manufactured substance used in disinfectants and resins; it has many forms and goes in
many names. For example, Nonylphenol ethoxylate is regularly found in detergents. Skin exposure
to large amounts of phenol can cause damage in the liver, diarrhea, dark urine, and hemolytic
anemia.

F. Surfactants are compounds used in an array of cleaning products for their ability to lower the surface
tension of water. It makes the water molecules slipperier so that they are less likely to stick to themselves
and more likely to interact with oil and grease. Surfactants added to cleaning agents, like detergent, allow
the detergent to mix into water, helping cleaning agents remove dirt from the surface being cleaned.
Without surfactants, soaps would not mix with the water, but would just roll off the water, making the
cleaning process much more difficult.

Example of Surfactants:
1.Alcohol Ethoxylate (AE) -A non-ionic surfactant. Surfactants allow water and grease to mix,
helping to remove greasy stains from your garments.

2.Alkyl Ethoxy Sulfate (AES) and Alkyl Sulfate (AS)

Two anionic surfactants that help liquid detergents bind to impurities in fabrics. They are two of the most
widely used tools for removing stains.
3.Amine Oxide
Amine Oxide is amphoteric surfactants that are commonly used in detergents and shampoos. It is used along
with other surfactants to remove stains can be anionic, cationic, or non-ionic.

4.Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

It is also known as Sodium dodecyl sulfate, is a widely used surfactant in cleaning products, cosmetics, and
personal care products. The sodium lauryl sulfate formula is a highly effective anionic surfactant used to
remove oily stains and residues.
5.Quaternary ammonium compounds are derived from an ammonia ion and are used as
disinfectants. Sometimes called "quats," these compounds are surface-active agents that break down the
cell walls of microbes causing leakage of the internal contents. As with phenols, there is a wide variety of
quaternary ammonium compounds under a variety of names on the market, and each has its benefits and
health/environmental risks. Check the label or MSDS for specifics.

G. Ethanol also called alcohol, ethyl alcohol and grain alcohol is a clear, colorless liquid. It can readily
dissolve and mixes easily in water and other organic compounds making it an effective solvent that is a
common ingredient for a range of products from personal care and beauty products to household cleaning
products as well as paints and varnishes to fuel. As an additive to cleaning products, ethanol is also used as
a preservative because it is effective in knocking out organisms that could pose a danger to consumers.

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H. Sodium percarbonate is a white, granular, or powdered solid oxidizer. It is used primarily as a bleaching
agent in cleaning products. Exposure to sodium percarbonate can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory
tract.
I. Phthalates are most used in the manufactures of plastics. It can also be found in household cleaners and
detergents. These chemicals are classified as inert and as such no product-labeling requirements exist for
phthalates. They are endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens.
Phthalates are known to cause hormonal abnormalities, thyroid disorders, birth defects, and reproductive
problems.

Other Ingredients in Cleaning Products and their Uses

1. Antibacterial or disinfecting ingredients provide 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. It can be included in a cleaning or hand
hygiene product or used separately after cleaning.
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.

2. Antimicrobial agents Destroy bacteria and viruses by interfering with their metabolism or destroying
their cell walls. Different chemical structures can serve this purpose, including alcohol, sodium
hypochlorite, iodine, pine oil, phenolic, and quaternary ammonium compounds. Such molecules act as
disinfectants in household cleaning product formulations.

3. Bleach activators are compound that boosts the performance of the bleach component of detergent
making it effective at lower temperatures. Bleach activators react with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous
solution to form peroxy acids, they are a component of most laundry detergents.

4. Builders The most basic function of builders is to soften water by tying up the hardness minerals in the
water, so they do not interfere with the cleaning action of the surfactants. Some builders also aid in
keeping soil particles in suspension, thus assuring that cleaned surfaces remain clean.

5. Bulking agents are added to increase the volume of a product through dilution so that it can be applied
at the correct concentration.

6. Colorants are sometimes used to give a product color. They provide a product with an individual
characteristic and an appealing appearance. Often, they also act as tracers. In certain toilet bowl cleaners,
for example, the disappearance of color indicates the product is exhausted. In other products, the tracer
indicates the location of the product and helps assure uniform product application, as in certain floor
cleaners.

7. 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.

8. Foam Enhancers help create suds or bubbles. While not necessary for effective cleaning, many people
feel bubbles show that a product is working.

9. 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. It also covers

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the base odor of the chemicals used in cleaning products. They may also counteract any malodors inherent
in the soil itself and leave a pleasing scent after cleaning.

These ingredients may be natural compounds (that come from materials like flowers, fruit, trees, plants, or
nuts), essential oils, or synthetic compounds. Lavender and lemon are two common fragrances that can be
found in cleaning products.

10. 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.

NOTE: pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Pure water has a pH around 7 or neutral pH
Acidic solutions have a pH below 7 (e.g. cola: pH = 2,5)
Alkaline products have a pH that is higher than 7 (e.g., drain unblocker: pH = 14)
Acidic cleaners are efficient in removing limescale and rust stains. Alkaline cleaners remove fatty stains.

11. Preservatives protect the product against the natural effects that occur when a product ages, like
decay, discoloration, oxidation, and bacterial attack. Preservatives include ingredients such as butylated
hydroxytoluene, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, and glutaraldehyde. Adding a preservative allows a
cleaning product to stay on the shelf longer, both in the store and in your home.

12. Solvents are chemicals that help ingredients stay mixed and give cleaning products the right thickness,
so they are easy to use. Organic solvents can also help prevent liquid products from freezing in cold
climates.

Without solvents, a product will be very thick. In some cases, this might be a good thing (think of a
bar of soap). 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.

13. Thickeners give soap the proper viscosity (thickness), making sure it can flow out of a bottle slowly
enough to avoid spills.

PERFORMANCE TASK: What is inside my house? (1 whole sheet of paper)

Directions: Look at all the cleaning products you have at home. How many of them do you think to
involve chemistry? Identify from the product labels the active ingredients of these cleaning agents, the
direction in using the product, the precaution in using the product, and write the uses of the listed active
ingredients.
Product Active/ major Direction in using Precautions in Uses of the listed
ingredient the product using the product active ingredients
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
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Post-Test
Choose the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
1. Which of the following is not an example of abrasives?
A. Borax B. Sandpaper C. Steel Wool D. Zonrox
2. It is used to remove grease particularly on windows and finger marks on walls.
A. Acid B. Disinfectant C. Organic Solvent D. Sanitizers
3. Tide, Surf, Champion and Ariel are all example of a ___________?
A. Abrasives B. Acids C. Degreaser D. Detergent
4. Which of the following are true about degreaser?
A. It can eat away clothing, leather, skin, and some metals.
B. It is composed of sodium metasilicate or caustic soda.
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
5. Hydrochloric and _______acids are very strong acid and is used toilet bowl cleaners in dilute
concentrations.
A. Nitric B. Oxalic C. Sulfuric D. Vinegar
6. Which of following is NOT a surfactant?
A. Alcohol Ethoxylate B. Alkyl Ethoxy C. Amine Oxide D. Ethanol

7. What Active Ingredients are known to cause hormonal abnormalities, thyroid disorders, birth defects,
and reproductive problems?
A. Ammonia B. D-Limonene C. Hydrogen peroxide D. Phthalates
8. What Is D-Limonene?
A. It also works as an oxidizer
B. Commonly used in detergents and shampoos
C. A manufactured substance used in disinfectants and resins
D. It is the oil extracted from oranges and other citrus fruits
9. Which of the following active ingredients that can be used as a preservative because it can knock out
organisms that could pose danger to the consumer?
A. Ammonia B. Ethanol C. Phenol D. Sodium percarbonate
10. Which of the following is derived from ammonia ion and is used as a disinfectant??
A. Amine Oxide B. Alkyl Ethoxy Sulfate
C. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

PRE-TEST POST-TEST

1.B D

2. D C

3. A D

4. D B

5. D C

6. B D

7. D D

8. A D

9. B B

10. C 8D
REFERENCES
A. Internet and other Sources
Whitacre, Stacie H., “Chem 101: What you need to know about active ingredients.” 2002 retrieve from https://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/Chem-
101-What-you-need-to-know-about-active-ingredients--372
4 Types of Cleaning Agents and When to Use Them. retrieved from. https://www.foodsafety.ca/blog/4-types-cleaning-agents-and-when-use-
them#:~:text=Detergents%20are%20the%20most%20common,easy%20to%20wash%20it%20away.
Cleaning Products retrieved from https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/cleaning-products/#:~:text=Cleaning%20products%20play%20an
%20essential,helping%20us%20to%20stay%20healthy
ChemicalSafetyFacts.org “Surfactants” retrieved from https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/surfactants/#:~:text=Surfactants%20are%20compounds
%20used%20in,interact%20with%20oil%20and%20grease.
Household Cleaning Products retrieved from https://www.munciesanitary.org/departments/recycling/household-hazardous-waste/household-
cleaning-products/
Types of Household Cleaning Products retrieved from http://www.healthycleaning101.org/types-of-household-cleaning-products/
B. Photo Credits
Figure A
https://www.amazon.com/Tide-Liquid-Laundry-Detergent-Original/dp/B07F46BDDP
https://www.homeshop.ph/surf-purple-blooms-with-fabcon-detergent-powder-1000g
http://www.smallscaleindustries.in/detergentwashingpowdersoap.php
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/detergent-powder-washing-powder-detergent-gm590146468-101422757
Figure B
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink

ROSALES NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

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 SENIOR DEPARTMENT
Don Antonio Village, Rosales, Pangasinan

INSTRUCTION: Detach and submit this Worksheet together with the activity sheets.

WORKSHEET
Name: Rona Grace M. Martinez
Subject: PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Grade/Section: 12 HUMSS B
Subj. Teacher: Glacymae Quinto Week: 8 - Quarter 1

A.Directions: Read each sentence carefully. Write FACT if the statement is true and correct and
BLUFF if otherwise.

_______1. Phthalates are known to cause damage in the liver, diarrhea, dark urine, and hemolytic anemia.
_______2. Amine Oxide can be anionic, cationic, or non-ionic
_______3. Surfactants are compound that can lower the surface tension of water.
______ 4. Sodium percarbonate is a dark, granular, or powdered solid oxidizer.
_______5. As an additive to cleaning products, phenol is also used as a preservative.
_______6. Alcohol Ethoxylate is sometimes called "quats.
_______7. Ammonia is commonly referred as household ammonia.
_______8. Bleach is commonly packages in the bottle as a 3 percent solution.
_______9. Chlorine generally is the most common bleach used in household cleaning products.
_______10.When ammonia and bleach are combined, they release toxic chloramine gas.

B.Direction: Arrange the following jumbled letters to form the words related to other ingredients of cleaning
products.

1. REKSTCNIHE ___________________________________________
2. ETISEPAVRSVER ________________________________________
3. ANSEAFRGCR __________________________________________
4. MAFO ECNSEHRNA _____________________________________
5. ILMRBIINCOTAA EGTSNA ________________________________
6. IEAABTCTRILAN ________________________________________
7. HEBCLA CAATOISTRV ____________________________________
8. TSCALNORO ___________________________________________
9. STELVNO _____________________________________________
10. PH STUJREADS ________________________________________

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III. REFLECTIVE ASSESSMENT
1. What concepts or skills did you learn well?

2. What concepts or skills was difficult to understand?

3. What activities did you enjoy the most?

4. What activity was hard to execute?

5. Did you ask help from your teacher? (Yes or No).

If Yes, did you immediately receive the needed assistance?
Was the given assistance helpful for you to understand better the lesson?

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