soap and grime are attracted to each other by what type of interaction?

Answer 1

Soap and grime are not necessarily attracted to each other.

While reading this remember polar molecules dissolve other polar molecules and non-polar molecules dissolve in other non-polar molecules. Different oils will dissolve in one another but will not dissolve in water.

Soap contains a polar side and a non-polar side. Grime that is polar will wash away with water. The oily grime will dissolve the non-polar end of the soap. The oily grime is now surrounded by a polar side of the soap and can now be washed away with water.

Answer 2

As has been mentioned, soap and grime don't neccessarily interact with each other in the classical sense.

What takes place is that the "dirt" or grime is actually a combination of polar and non-polar entities some of which are soluble in water and some of which are not. As we would expect, that which is soluble in water will go into water without the need for soap.

In the case of materials which are not soluble, the soap (which is a surfactant) facilities the removal of the insoluble phases from clothes or dishes by the formation of micelles with the non-polar species. It effectively "screens" the non-polar entities from the polar water molecules such that the ENTIRE micelle (which is the surfactant and the non-polar species) is an overall polar species. After this is done, the grime can be "washed" away with the water b/c it is now soluble in the water.

Answer 3

dirt is mostly non-polar so when you put it in water the water can't interact with it. The soap creates micelles around the dirt and helps get it into solution cleaning your clothes.