2006-12-08 08:57:17 · 2 answers · asked by stargirl 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
This is a bit complicated.
A soap bubble is a sphere-shaped layer of soap enclosing air. The layer actually consists of a thin sheet of water sandwiched between two layers of soap molecules. One end of each soap melcule is attracted to water. The other end is a hydrocarbon chain that avoids water. The water-hating ends of the soap molecules crowd at the surface, trying to avoid the water, and stick out away from the sandwiched layer of water. As a result, water molecules get spread out in the "sandwich". The increased distance between the water molecules leads to decreased surface tension, which allows bubbles to form. Bubbles get their spherical shape from minimizing the energy of the soap film. The sphere has the minimal surface area needed to enclose a given volume, which makes it the most efficient shape.
2006-12-08 09:25:26 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um...Carbomer?
Good luck!
2006-12-08 17:06:13 · answer #2 · answered by DiphallusTyranus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋