Question

explain the cleaning action of soap.​

Answer 1

The soap molecule or also known as a soap miscelle contains a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophylic tail of carboxylic acid. The hydrophobic tail is attached to the dirt or the oil while the hydrophilic head is attached to the water. The entire compound with the oil is now soluble in water as the oil is not in direct contact with the water.

Now when we clean the object with water, the compound is removed as the hydrophilic head goes along with the water dragging its hydrophobic tail and the dirt or oil with it. Froth is also formed because of this reaction.