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soap can be used to dissolve both polar and nonpolar substances well. Explain why.

soap can be used to dissolve both polar and nonpolar substances well. Explain why.
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Answer #1

Soaps contain nonpolar tail (a long chain of carbon atoms) and polar head (carboxylate moiety).

Because of the two different parts of the molecule, a soap molecule is soluble in water and at the same time can dissolve fats. The fats are attracted to the non-polar tail part of the soap while the polar head makes the whole complex (soap + fat molecules) dissolve in water.

That is why soap can be used to dissolve both polar and nonpolar substances well.

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