Question

What is Soap Chemistry?

Answer 1

Soap and detergent:

All soaps and detergents are chemical compounds made up of Sodium and Potassium salts of fatty acid (${\mathrm{C}}_{17}{\mathrm{H}}_{35}{\mathrm{COO}}^{-}{\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\mathrm{or}{\mathrm{K}}^{+}$)formed by the hydrolysis of fats. This process is called Saponification.

Parts of soap:

1. Hydrophilic or water-loving ($-\mathrm{COOH}$) - head part consists of the polar carboxylic acid part that attracts the water molecule.
2. Hydrophobic or water-hating (${CH}_{\mathit{3}}-{\mathit{\left(}\mathit{C}{\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{2}}\mathit{\right)}}_n-$) - tail part consists of a non-polar long hydrocarbon chain of fatty acids that do not interact with the water molecules.

Micelle:

Micelle formation takes place when a long hydrocarbon chain-forming inside of the spherical surface gets attracted toward oil or grease or dirt particles and the non-polar negatively-charged carboxylic acid gets attached to the long hydrocarbon chain-forming outside of the spherical surface.