Question

cleansing action of soap class 12

Answer 1

Cleansing action of Soaps and detergents. Most of the dirt is oily in nature and oil does not dissolve in water. The molecule of soap constitutes sodium or potassium salts of long chain carboxylic acids. In the case of soaps, the carbon chain dissolves in oil and the ionic end dissolves in water.

Answer 2

The cleansing action of soap is due to the formation of micelle by the soap molecules in such a way that the hydrophobic part is in the oil droplet(dirt) and the hydrolphilic part projects out. Since the polar groups interact with watersurrounded by soap ions is pulled from the surface and pulled into water.