Question

Explain the cleansing action of soaps.

Answer 1

Cleansing action of Soaps and detergents

Soap molecule can be represented as

Hydrocarbon chain is water repelling and ionic part is water attracting. When soap is dissolved in water and a dirty cloth is agitated in the solution, the oily dirt attaches to the hydrocarbon part, while water attaches to the ionic part.

Now these soap molecules arrange themselves in the form of micelles. As the mixture is agitated more, the more and more dirt particles leave the cloth and get attached to the soap molecules. The negative charges of micelles prevent the dirt to form aggregates. Thus, soap removes dirt by reducing the surface tension of water.