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Why does micelle formation take place when soap is added to water ? Will a micell be formed in other solvents such as ethanol also ?

Why does micelle formation take place when soap is added to water ? Will a micell be formed in other solvents such as ethanol also ?

Grade:12th pass

1 Answers

Pawan Prajapati
askIITians Faculty 60787 Points
3 years ago
Micelle formation takes place when soap is added to water because the hydrocarbon chains of soap molecules are hydrophobic (water repelling) which are insoluble in water, but the ionic ends of soap molecules are hydrophilic (water attracting) and hence soluble in water. Such micelle formation will not be possible in other solvents like ethanol in which sodium salt of fatty acids do not dissolve.

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