With the help of a diagram, explain cleansing action of soap.
Answer
Soap molecules are arranged in a specific manner which is known as micelles . In this arrangement, the polar head being hydrophilic faces outwards and interacts with water and the nonpolar tail being hydrophobic remains inwards and interacts with oil and dirt.
When soap is added to dirty clothes, the hydrophobic part attaches with oil and dirt while the hydrophilic part remains in contact with water molecules. Because of this arrangement of the soap molecules, it is able to remove dirt from the surfaces and we can wash the clothes clean.
Structure of micelle: