Explain how soap cleans.
Answers
Answer:
The cleaning action of soap is due to micelle formation and emulsion formation. Inside water a unique orientation forms clusters of molecules in which the hydrophobic tails are in the interior of the cluster and the ionic ends on the surface of cluster. This results in the formation of micelle. Soap in the form of micelle cleans the (dirt) oil as the oil will be collected at the centre of micelle. This property of soap makes it an emulsifier. The dirt suspended in micelles is easily rinsed away. This is known as cleaning action of soap.
Explanation:
A soap molecule has different polarities. At one end of it is the long hydrocarbon chain that is non-polar and hydrophobic, i.e. insoluble in water but soluble in oil. At the other end is the short polar carboxylate ion which is hydrophilic i.e.,soluble in water but insoluble in oil and grease.
When soap is shaken with water it becomes a soap solution that is colloidal in nature.