Question

What are micelles and 3 diffrence between soaps and detergents

Answer 1

In aqueous solution, molecules having both polar or charged groups and non polar regions (amphiphilic molecules) form aggregates called micelles. In a micelle, polar or ionic heads form an outer shell in contact with water, while non polar tails are sequestered in the interior. Hence, the core of a micelle, being formed of long non polar tails, resembles an oil or gasoline drop.In aqueous solution, molecules having both polar or charged groups and non polar regions (amphiphilic molecules) form aggregates called micelles. In a micelle, polar or ionic heads form an outer shell in contact with water, while non polar tails are sequestered in the interior. Hence, the core of a micelle, being formed of long non polar tails, resembles an oil or gasoline drop.Micelles are widely used in industrial and biological fields for their ability to dissolve and move non polar substances through an aqueous medium, or to carry drugs which are, often, scarcely soluble in water.

	Soaps	Detergents
1.	Soaps are the sodium salts of long chain carboxylic acids	Detergents are sodium salts of long chain benzene sulphonic acids
2.	The ionic group in soaps is –COO-Na+	The ionic group in soaps is SO3-Na+ or SO4-Na+
3.	Soaps are not useful when water is hard	Detergents can be used for washing purposes even when water is hard
4.	Soaps are biodegradable	Some of the detergents are non-biodegradable
5.	Soaps have relatively weak cleansing action	Detergents have a strong cleansing action