Chemistry & ProductsQuestion 424 of 484

The three side bonds that give hair its shape are hydrogen, salt, and disulfide bonds. Which list correctly orders them from WEAKEST to STRONGEST?

a.Disulfide < salt < hydrogen
b.Hydrogen < salt < disulfide
c.Salt < disulfide < hydrogen
d.All three bond types are exactly equal in strength

Explanation

Hydrogen bonds are the weakest of the three; they break with water and reform when the hair dries, which is why wet-set styling holds until it gets damp again. Salt bonds are intermediate; they break with strong acids or alkalis. Disulfide bonds are by far the strongest; they require a chemical reducing agent in a permanent wave or relaxer to break. California licensees rely on this hierarchy when performing thermal styling versus chemical services under CCR Title 16 §979.4. Option A reverses the order. Option C swaps salt and hydrogen. Option D ignores the published bond energies that any chemistry textbook for cosmetology lists.

Law Reference: CCR Title 16 §979.4

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