Action of soap is due to emulsification and micelle formation
Answers
The cleansing action of soap is due to emulsification and micelle formation. Soaps are basically sodium and potassium salts of long chain fatty acids, R-COO-Na+. ... Thus, a soap molecule contains a hydrophilic (polar) and a hydrophobic (non-polar) part.
Answer:
Emulsification and micelle formation determines the cleansing action of soap. Sodium and potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids(R-COO-Na+) is the basic mixture of a soap. Sodium is attached to the end of the molecule, which is polar in nature, while the alkyl-end is non- polar. Thus, a soap molecule contains both polar and non-polar part. i.e. hydrophilic and hydrophobic part respectively.
Micelle is formed when water containing dirt is mixed with soap, the molecules of soap surround the dirt particles in such a manner that the dirt molecule and the hydrophobic part gets attached and the hydrophilic parts point away from the dirt molecule. Thus, non-polar group dissolves in the dirt particle while polar group dissolves in the dirt particle. Now, a stable emulsion is formed as these micelles are negatively charged and they do not coalesce.