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Soap is a combination of a non-polar hydrocarbon chain (tail), and a very polar head.
The non-polar tail (no free electrons, balanced bonds) section of the soap interacts with the oil.
The polar head (free pairs of electrons in the chemical bonds, ionic or unbalanced bonds) dissolves in the water.
Many descriptions indicate that the soap forms micelles around the oil with the non-polar tails pointing inward interacting with the oil, and the polar heads outwards interacting with the water... thus insulating the oil from the water.
Since this was in science experiments, it would be an interesting project to make a batch of lye soap using cooking oil, lard, or shortening, and lye (sodium hydroxide) and water. Instructions are on the WWW. LYE is dangerous and must be handled with caution and with parental guidance.
What else can I help you with?
What is the effect of soap on oil?
Soap allows oil to dissolve in water.
Does the ionic end of soap dissolves in oil?
No, the ionic end of soap dissolves in water, not oil. The ionic end of soap is hydrophilic, meaning it is attracted to water molecules. It is the nonpolar end of soap that dissolves in oil, as it is hydrophobic and repels water.
Why does soap have to be use to clean oil?
Soap is able to clean oil because it contains molecules that have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (oil-attracting) properties. When soap is mixed with oil and water, the hydrophobic part of the soap molecules attaches to the oil, while the hydrophilic part attaches to water, allowing the oil to be washed away with water. This helps to break down and emulsify the oil, making it easier to remove from surfaces.
How does soap affect oil?
Soap helps break up oil. This happens because the soap particles surround the oil molecules and help them dissolve in water.
What happens to the soap after allowing the water to hit it's surface?
When water hits the surface of soap, it causes the soap molecules to attract both water and oil. This leads to the formation of bubbles as the soap molecules orient themselves at the water-oil interface, encapsulating oil and dirt to be washed away.
How does soap remove oil?
Water will dissolve anything that is polar but oil is nonpolar. It usually takes nonpolar liquids to dissolve a nonpolar substance. Soap molecules help with this because they have a polar head that interacts with water nicely and a nonpolar tail that interacts with things like oil. The end result is a drop of oil with a layer of soap floating around in the water.
Is soap soluble in oil?
No, soap is not soluble in oil. Soap is hydrophilic, meaning it is soluble in water, but not in oils or other nonpolar substances.
What makes water and oil mix?
soap
What kind of mixture is soap able to form in order to make oil and water soluble?
No.Only water and soap can be mixed together.Because,soap is the sodium or potassium salt of higher fatty acids.So,it will dissolve in water.Oil is an ester of glycerol with higher fatty acids and sodium or potassium salts of acids are generally insoluble in organic solvents.Esters are immiscible with water.Therefore,in the mixture of water,soap and oil,soap will dissolve in water and pure oil will float on water.
Why does soap remove oil from hands?
Soap molecules contain both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (oil-attracting) parts. When soap is applied to oily hands and rinsed with water, the hydrophobic part of the soap molecules attaches to the oil, while the hydrophilic part allows the oil molecules to mix with the water and be rinsed away, effectively removing the oil from the hands.
Do soap and oil interact?
Yes, soap and oil interact through a process called emulsification. Soap molecules have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail, allowing them to surround and trap oils and grease, making them soluble in water and easier to wash away.
Why do you need to use soap when you wash oil from your hands?
Oil and water do not mix. Soap breaks down the oil so it can be washed off your hands.
