Question

What properties do soap molecules have?

Answer 1

Soaps and detergents are the SALTS of long chain fatty acids........

Explanation:

So what is a fatty acid? It is usually a long-chain carboxylic acid, of the form `RCO_2H`. The `R` group can be 10-20 carbons long. And to a first approx. we could represent a soap molecule as `RC(=O)O^-)""^(+)Na`. These beasts are ambiphilic. The carboxylate end can bind to ions and the water solvent, and the hydrocarbyl tail can bind to fats and greases, on the basis of polarity: like versus like etc.

And this is thus the origin of micelle formation:

And here the micelle binds the grease/dirt, and prevents it from redepositing back on your skin, or your clothes, or on the breakfast dishes.

Similar chemistry occurs with long chain sulfonic acids, `RSO_3^(-)""^(+)M`, and these are the basis of modern detergents and washing powders.