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Exercises · 5.18

Q.Action of soap is due to emulsification and micelle formation. Comment.

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Step 1 – Structure of soap. Soap is the sodium/potassium salt of a higher fatty acid, e.g. sodium stearate C17H35COO−Na+C_{17}H_{35}COO^{-}Na^{+}. It is an associated colloid: each molecule has a long non-polar (hydrophobic) hydrocarbon tail and a polar (hydrophilic) carboxylate head −COO−-COO^{-}.

Step 2 – Micelle formation. Above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), soap molecules aggregate into micelles — spherical clusters with the hydrocarbon tails pointing inward (away from water) and the ionic heads on the outside facing water.

Step 3 – Cleansing (emulsification of grease). Dirt is generally held to fabric by grease/oil, which is insoluble in water. When soap solution is applied:

  • the hydrophobic tails penetrate/dissolve into the grease droplet, while
  • the hydrophilic heads remain in the water. …

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