re: #259 prononymous

Not exactly a scumbag, I ruled that out when you questioned the morality of your decision and showed some introspection. Maybe more like, um, callous. One reason they were banned from various products, among others, is that phosphates are destroying many aquatic habitats. It doesn’t take much to achieve that effect because it is a limiting nutrient in many freshwater ecosystems.

Yes….I know why they are banned…..however phosphates being amphipathic have a polar and non polar moiety in the same molecule allowing them to be both hydrophobic and hydrophillic at the same time so they are the true bisexuals of the chemistry world. This allows them to solublize fats and oils and such and stay water soluable. One of the truly fascinating uses of entropy. So they clean like a m’fin riot. In addition, that partial soluability leaves the particles every so slightly as emulsions rather than true solutions so they carry momentum and literally chip particles off of dishes. And yes I do have a chemistry degree….