Question

Why does micelle formation take place when soap is added to water? Will a micelle be formed in other solvents such as ethanol also?

Answer 1

basically micelle formations are bolyantic but in contact with other substances it expiates

Answer 2

Answer:

• A soap is a sodium or potassium salt of long chain fatty acids.
• It has one polar end and one non-polar end.
• The polar end is hydrophilic in nature i.e., this end is attracted towards water.
• The non-polar end is hydrophobic but lipophilic, i.e., it is attracted towards hydrocarbons.
• When soap is added to water, soap molecules arrange themselves in a cluster to keep the non-polar portion out of water such that the non-polar ends are in the interior of the cluster and the polar ends are on the surface of the cluster.
• Since the dirt present on clothes is organic in nature and insoluble in water, the hydrophobic ends of the clusters attach themselves to the dirt.
• This cluster formation in which the dirt is entrapped is the micelle.
• Micelle formation does not occur in alcohol because the alkyl chain of soap becomes soluble in alcohol.