Question

sodium acetate and sodium propionate are poor soaps.

Answer 1

Sodium acetate and sodium propionate are poor soaps because they do not have a long enough hydrocarbon side to bind to dirt. Therefore, there is not enough nonpolar substance in the molecule to bind to nonpolar dirts, fats and oils. Also they dont have large enough hydrophobic regions to absorb oils and greases into solution, or create micelles. the best soaps are Sodium fatty acids... they have an ionic side, which helps them be soluble in water, and a long organic chain to create a hydrophobic region to make it easier to form micelles in water to pick up grease.