explain the cleansing action of soap based on its chemical structure?

Question

explain the cleansing action of soap based on its chemical structure?

help... or perhaps.. give me a website that explains something about this..

all answers will be appreciated

Answer 1

The soap bonds with various forms of dirt and grease providing it with a "handle" so it can be washed off with water. They turn a substance that is not normally water soluble into one that is. Pumice and other grit can be added to give it an additional abrasive quality to scrape off dirt. Finally a mild disinfectant can be added to kill germs. The surfactant action is to spread the water better so it can get in among the grease and dirt.

The single best method to fight colds and the flu is to wash your hands after contact with others or other surfaces that could be contanimated. Experts say that you need to wash your hands as long as it takes to sing the song "Happy Birthday" and you must get both sides and in between your fingers.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap
"Soap is a surfactant used in conjunction with water for washing and cleaning that historically comes in solid bars but also in the form of a thick liquid, especially from soap dispensers in public washrooms.

Historically, soap has been composed of sodium (soda ash) or potassium (potash) salts of fatty acids derived by reacting fat with lye in a process known as saponification. The fats are hydrolyzed by the base, yielding glycerol and crude soap.

Many cleaning agents today are technically not soaps, but detergents, which are less expensive and easier to manufacture.

Soaps are useful for cleaning because soap molecules attach readily to both nonpolar molecules (such as grease or oil) and polar molecules (such as water). Although grease will normally adhere to skin or clothing, the soap molecules can attach to it as a "handle" and make it easier to rinse away. Applied to a soiled surface, soapy water effectively holds particles in suspension so the whole of it can be rinsed off with clean water.

(fatty end) :CH3-(CH2)n - COONa: (water soluble end)

The hydrocarbon ("fatty") portion dissolves dirt and oils, while the ionic end makes it soluble in water. Therefore, it allows water to remove normally-insoluble matter by emulsification."

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant
“Surfactants, also known as tensides, are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.”

Answer 2

Soap Chemical Structure