Home › Tamil Nadu SSLC (Class 10) › Chemistry › Carbon and its Compounds › In a soap molecule used for cleaning, which part…
In a soap molecule used for cleaning, which part is hydrophobic and attaches itself to oil and dirt?
AThe water-loving end
BThe polar carboxylate head
CThe sodium ion
DThe non-polar hydrocarbon tail
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The non-polar hydrocarbon tail
1. A soap molecule has a polar (hydrophilic) head and a non-polar (hydrophobic) tail.
2. The polar carboxylate head and the water-loving end describe the same hydrophilic part, which faces water, so they are wrong.
3. The non-polar hydrocarbon tail is hydrophobic and is attracted to oil and dirt.
4. Hence the dirt-grabbing part is the non-polar hydrocarbon tail.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 11 "Carbon and its Compounds", p.175_
Related questions
The functional group in acetic acid (CH₃COOH) isWhen ethanol reacts with sodium metal, one of the products isThe compound formed when ethanol undergoes complete combustion isWhich of the following is used for making cutting tools due to its extreme hardness?The two allotropes of carbon found naturally areWhen soap is added to water, the ionic (hydrophilic) end of the soap molecule interacts wiThe IUPAC name of CH₃−CH₂−CH₂−CH₃ isThe presence of a double bond between two carbon atoms makes the compound