Why does micelle formation take place when soap is added to water? Will a micelle be formed in other solvents such as ethanol also?
Solution: Micelle formation takes place because the accumulation of soap molecules around dirt particles during washing of cloths, hands etc. The soap molecules have two parts -
(i) Organic tail and (Hydrophobic part)
(ii) Ionic head (Hydrophilic part)
The Hydrophobic part accumulated on dirt particles and hydrophilic part occupy peripheral positions. When the material to be cleaned with water, the dirt is taken off by the soap molecules.
Micelle formation takes place in polar solvents in which the soap molecule dissociates in to their ions. So, in ethanol micelle formation does not takes place.
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