<P> Laundry detergent, or washing powder, is a type of detergent (cleaning agent) that is added for cleaning laundry, commonly mixtures of chemical compounds including alkylbenzenesulfonates, which are similar to soap but are less affected by hard water . While detergent is still sold in powdered form, liquid detergents have been taking major market shares in many countries since their introduction in the 1950s . </P> <P> Laundry detergent pods have also been sold within the United States since 2012 when they were introduced by Procter & Gamble as Tide Pods . Earlier instances of laundry detergent pods include Salvo tablets sold in the 1960s and 1970s . </P>

Is laundry detergent a mixture compound or element