5.25 What are micelles? Give an example of a micellar system.
When the long chain of fatty acids like soap and detergent is added to water the hydrophobic part of their chain is aligned towards the centre in such a manner that they form a spherical shape and their hydrophilic part is facing towards outside. This spherical like structure is known as a micelle.
Structure of sodium soap(Left side - hydrophobic part, Right side- hydrophilic part)
fig:- Micelle of that sodium soap.