Question #1894b
1 Answer
"Micelles" is formed when a compound with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail interact with a nonpolar substance in water. Remember the principle "like dissolves like", that's basically what's going on here. The hydrophilic tail "loves" or is attracted to the water molecule which is polar. The hydrophobic tail isn't. It rather has an affinity with non-polar substance. Now here comes the fun part.
when you accidentally spill grease on your clothes, or in even in your hands, you would notice that water form droplets and will not mix with it? Water can't clean your oily hands because oil/grease which is non-polar does not dissolve with water which is polar. "Like dissolves like". So, in order to get that grease off, you need soap or liquid detergent. these substances have "hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head".
Imagine a lot of "heads" will surround the oil molecule and dissolve it. It will form like a spherical cage. Its "tail" which faces the water molecules because it "loves or is attracted to it, will "go along" with water. That's why your dirty clothes get clean when you "apply detergent" and when you rinse it with water. Do you get it?
