CBSE Class 10 Answered

The micelle has a hydrophilic (water seeking) pole and a hydrophobic (water repelling) pole. The hydrophobic poles attract each other, thus forming the interior of the micelle. The hydrophilic poles form a tough outer surface.

When a micelle comes in contact with a hydrocarbon molecule, the center of the micelle bonds to a similar hydrophobic hydrocarbon. It disrupts the attraction to other hydrocarbon molecules and/or to the surface.

The action of a single micelle is multiplied by billions of other micelles. The molecular level emulsification process penetrates highly viscous and sticky materials, lifting them from the surface to which they adhere.