The non-polar end adsorbs the oil or other hydrophobic dirt. The ionic end is highly soluble in water. This allows for an emulsion to be formed. The alkali metal (sodium or potassium ion) does not play a role in the action of the soap.
Soap use is not a chemical reaction, but a physical one. Under normal conditions, the soap does not react with the dirt chemically. If "hard water" minerals are present (magnesium or calcium) these can chemically react with the soap and lessen its effectiveness by removing the soap from solution.
The structure of the emulsion is such that the oil or oily dirt is surrounded by soap molecules with the ionic part of the molecules toward the outside where water will react with the ionic end (by hydrogen bonding) and keep the oil in "solution." Hot water helps in the formation and suspension of the emulsion.
Other additives are sometimes added to soap for antibacterial or antifungal effects, but these are not the main ingredients -- they just enhance the primary function of emulsifying oils in water.
See the Web Links for more information and pictures of soap molecules interacting with oil and water.
How hand soap works.Soap alone cannot remove dirt or kill germs-- it is the act of running water along with the oils in the soap that help loosen the dirt and rinse it off of your skin. Soap will not destroy the dirt or even germs but the ingredients in soaps such as lye, will make a hostile environment where germs cannot survive. Anti bacterial soaps do kill some bacteria but not all of them and it will not kill any viruses. So, the best way to keep your hands free and clear of germs is to rub your hands and the soap under water and make lots of lather, then rinse thoroughly with plenty of clean water. Cold water will work fine, but warm water will help dissolve oily dirt making it easier to rinse off of your skin.Soap must be used to clean oil off of something because water will not work.
warm water and soap help pick up all the debris on your hands
soap effects our lives by helping us stay clean.Also it can help you clean dishies and cars and get things done without soap you can be dirty and your clothes will not be clean and its a chance bateria can form and this is soome reasons why soap effect our daily life.
you can clean a penny with soap or try something that clean 99% of germs.
borax is made out of tiny chemicals that is us to clean things like clothes
Soap must be used to clean oil off of something because water will not work.
To clean things, including your clothes and hands.
example of an alkali is a soap soap helps us clean our body so it is useful for living things
Soap on a rope
Soap rhymes with rope
It is always important to keep things clean with hot water and soap.
warm water and soap help pick up all the debris on your hands
The soap is always clean because the soap cannot get dirty. The floor doesn't get cleaned because the soap was just dropped, so it wasn't scrubbed around and wasn't able to clean it. So, I think that the soap is clean and the floor is dirty unless you have a clean floor.
soap effects our lives by helping us stay clean.Also it can help you clean dishies and cars and get things done without soap you can be dirty and your clothes will not be clean and its a chance bateria can form and this is soome reasons why soap effect our daily life.
you can clean a penny with soap or try something that clean 99% of germs.
The soap is always clean because the soap cannot get dirty. The floor doesn't get cleaned because the soap was just dropped, so it wasn't scrubbed around and wasn't able to clean it. So, I think that the soap is clean and the floor is dirty unless you have a clean floor.
scrub brush soap a bucket of water and a comb to brush there hair