Why does micelle formation take place when soap is added to water? Will a micelle be formed in other solvents such as ethanol also?
Soap molecules have two ends with different properties. One end is hydrophilic, which dissolves in water and other end is hydrophobic, it dissolves in hydrocarbons. When soap is added to water, the ionic end of soap will form a unique orientation and keep the hydrocarbon tail away from it. The cluster of molecules is formed in which the hydrophobic tails are in the interior of the cluster and the ionic ends are on the surface of the cluster. Hence, micelle formation takes place. Soap is soluble in ethanol hence the micelle formation will not take place.
