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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? ​

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Solution

Soap molecules have two ends. One end is hydrophilic and another end is hydrophobic. ​
  • When soap is dissolved in water and clothes are put in the soapy solution, hydrophobic end of soap molecules converge in a typical fashion to make a structure; called micelle. ​
  • The hydrophilic end is outside the sphere.​

Micelle is not formed in other solvent such as ethanol because the alkyl chain of soap becomes soluble in alcohol.​

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