Explain the mechanism of cleansing action of soaps and detergents.

Explanation

A soap molecules contains two parts . They are :
One polar end :
(i) Short head with a caboxylate group (-COONa)
(ii) Hydrophilic in nature ( Water loving )
(iii) Attracted towards water .
One non-polar end :
(i) Long tail with hydrocarbon chain .
(ii) Hydrophobic in nature (water heating ).
(iii) Attracted towards dirt or oil on the cloth .
(iv) Not attracted towards water .
Mechanism :

(i) Hydrophobic part of the soap traps the dirt and the hydrophilic part makes the entire molecule soluble in water .
(ii) When a soap or detergent is dissolved in water , the molecule join together as clusters called ' micelles '.
(iii) Their long hydrocarbon chains attach themselves to the oil and dirt .
(iv) The dirt is thus surrounded by the non-polar end of the soap molecules.
(v) The charged carboxylate end of the soap molecule makes the micelles soluble in water .
(vi) Thus , the dirt is washed away with the soap .