mreditor16
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- Apr 4, 2014
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- HSC
- 2014
At BOS TrialsIs everyone asleep or something? -.- hahahaha
Industrial Question - Soap is an effective surfactant due to its unique tadpole-like structure which allows for two-pronged cleaning effects. Soap has a long hydrocarbon tail which is hydrophobic (water hating) and an anionic head which is hydrophilic (water loving.) By working together, soap is able to act as a bridge, carrying off particles as the tail attaches to oil droplets and as the head dissolves in water. By effectively encircling these oil particles, a micelle is formed. The micelle carries a negative charge, thereby making it unable to resettle on the surface of the water as the particles repel one another. Non-oily substances can also be removed as the head dissolves in the water, and the tail sticks in the air, thereby breaking the surface tension. This causes the particles to become more "wet" and thus wash off.