# Sudsy (DD-345)

> Soap is made by saponification, reacting fats or oils with a strong base to make fatty acid salts and glycerol. Each soap molecule has a water-attracting head and an oil-attracting tail. In water the tails gather around grease and germs, forming micelles with the dirt inside, which rinse away. The footage shows microscope imagery.

- Department: Science
- First published: 2024-10-15
- Last updated: 2024-10-15
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sudsy/
- Original Reel title: Sudsy 🧼
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-345-F01**: Soap is made by saponification. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Made by))_
- **DD-345-F02**: The head is hydrophilic. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Head))_

## Write-up

Soap molecules have one end that loves water and one that loves oil. Together they form micelles that wash away grime.

1. **Made by**: Soap is made by saponification.
2. **Head**: The head is hydrophilic.
3. **Tail**: The tail is hydrophobic.
4. **Micelles**: Micelles trap grease.
5. **Rinse**: Micelles wash away.

## Related case files

- [Preserve Your Bubbles (DD-326)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/preserve-your-bubbles/): I linked more soap bubbles

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: The Reel says soap cleans by saponification; saponification is how soap is made, while cleaning works through micelles.

## Video: Sudsy: Soap Molecules Have One End That Loves Water and One That Loves Oil

- Duration: 29.3 s · Published: 2024-10-15
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DBK7A9mOr0i.mp4

### Transcript

Did you know? Soap cleans by a process called saponification, which involves breaking down fats and oils into fatty acid salts and glycerol. When you wash with soap, its molecules form structures called micelles that trap germs in grease within their hydrophobic centers. Soap molecules have a hydrophilic or water-attracting head and a hydrophobic or water -repelling tail. The hydrophobic tail binds to the oils and germs, while the hydrophilic head sticks to the water, allowing the entire micelle to be washed away, effectively removing germs from surfaces and skin. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: How is soap made?**  
A: Fat plus base. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Made by) · Wikipedia: Soap)_

**Q: What traps grease?**  
A: Clusters. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Head) · Wikipedia: Soap)_

**Q: Which end likes water?**  
A: Hydrophilic. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Tail) · Wikipedia: Soap)_

**Q: What does saponification also make?**  
A: Byproduct. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Micelles) · Wikipedia: Micelle)_

**Q: What happens to micelles?**  
A: With water. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Rinse) · Wikipedia: Micelle)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Soap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap)
- [Wikipedia: Micelle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micelle)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Sudsy." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-345, last updated Oct 15, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sudsy/