Question

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

Answer 1

Hint: Micelle formation takes place, this is because the hydrocarbon chains of soap molecules are hydrophobic while the ionic ends are hydrophilic and hence soluble in water.

Complete step by step solution:
Soap molecules have two ends. One end is hydrophilic and another end is hydrophobic.
When soap is dissolved in water and clothes are put in the soapy solution, soap molecules converge in a typical fashion to make a structure; called micelle.
The hydrophobic ends of different molecules surround a particle of grease and make the micelle; which is a spherical structure
In this, the hydrophilic end is outside the sphere and the hydrophobic end is towards the centre of the sphere.
This is why micelle formation takes place when soap is added to water.
Micelle can be formed only around suspended molecules of oil in a mixture, Soap in the form of a micelle is able to clean, as the oily dirt is collected in the centre of the micelle.
No, micelle formation does not take place in ethanol because the alkyl chain of soap becomes soluble in alcohol.

Hence, micelle formation takes place in water as solvent not in ethanol.

Note: Students can confuse between hydrophobic and hydrophilic end, make sure that alkyl group of soap is responsible for micelle formation.Hydrophilic literally means “water loving”.Hydrophobic on the other hand, literally means “afraid of water.”