Question

Explain the cleansing action of soap.

Short answer

Soaps are effective in cleaning away the dirt from a surface. Soaps have a hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head, which are equally important in the cleaning process.

Step-by-step solution

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic

Water-insoluble molecules are called hydrophobic molecules. They are repellent to these molecules. The hydrophobic molecules are called hydrophobes.

Due to their non-polarity, hydrophobic molecules are hydrophobic. Water-soluble molecules are hydrophilic molecules. As a result, molecules attract water molecules. Polar molecules attracted to water are hydrophilic molecules.

Explanation

Soap molecules have both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic end. The charged (hydrophilic) end, which is usually associated with an alkali metal ion, ensures water solubility. The hydrophobic end permits attraction to oil, grease, and other similar nonpolar substances that normally do not dissolve in water but are pulled into the solution by the soap molecules.