Junior Class 1 Answered
define micelle formation take place when soap is added to water ?
Asked by NARAN | 02 Mar, 2017, 06:22: PM
Expert Answer
- Soaps are cleansing agents capable of reacting with water and dislodging the unwanted particles from clothes or skin.
- The molecules of soap are sodium or potassium salts of long chain carboxylic acids.
- A soap molecule has a tadpole shaped structure.
- At one end (long non-polar end) of soap molecule is a hydrocarbon chain which is insoluble in water but soluble in oil.
- At the other end (short polar end) of soap molecule, there is a carboxylate ion which is hydrophilic i.e. water soluble but insoluble in oil.
- Soap on mixing with water forms a concentrated solution and causes foaming.
- The long non-polar end of soap gravitates towards and surrounds the dirt and absorbs the dust in it.
- The short polar end with the carboxylate ion repels the water away from the dirt.
- A spherical aggregate of soap molecules is formed in the soap solution in water, and is called a micelle.
- Thus, the soap molecule dissolves the dirt and our clothes get clean.
Answered by | 02 Mar, 2017, 07:39: PM