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?

Answer 1

Micelle formation

• The Soap has two ends one is a hydrophilic (water-loving) end and the other is a hydrophobic (water-repelling) end.

• When the soap is dissolved in water, its hydrophobic part surrounds the dirt and the hydrophilic part is attracted to the water forming a cluster type structure which is called a micelle.

Formation of micelle in different solvents

• Soaps are the sodium salts of the long chains fatty acids.
• In all those solvents in which sodium salt of these fatty acids dissolve the micelle formation takes place and vice versa.
• In Ethanol, these sodium salts of the fatty acids do not dissolve and hence micelle formation will not take place.