Name: Ethanol: Uses and Physical Properties
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min 15 s
Description: I am versatile. I am used in alcoholic beverages, in medicines as a solvent, in perfumes as a diluent, to name a few. Who am I? Watch this video to know the answer.

Question

Explain the cleansing action of soap.

Accepted Answer

A soap molecule contains two chemically distinct parts that interact differently with water. One part is a long hydrocarbon chain and the other belongs to the $- COONa$ group. The hydrocarbon chain is nonpolar and water-hating (hydrophobic), while the other part charged carboxylate group, $- COONa$ is polar and water-loving (hydrophilic). When soap is added to water, the soap molecules assume a configuration which increases the interaction of the water-loving heads with the water molecules and decreases the interaction between the water-hating tails with the water molecules. The water-hating, nonpolar tails clump together in a radial fashion with the water-loving, polar heads remaining at the periphery of the clump. These clumps or droplets of soap molecules are called micelles as shown below.

Most of the oil and dirt are nonpolar substances that are insoluble in water. When soap is added, its long hydrocarbon chain attaches itself to the oil and dirt. The dirt is thus enveloped in the nonpolar end of the soap micelles. The charged carboxylate ends of the soap molecules make the micelles soluble in water. Thus, the dirt is washed away with the soap.

Explain the cleansing action of soap.

Important Questions on Carbon and its Compounds

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !