Why does fat dissolve in the soap?

Soap is a surfactant, which means that it has a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-hating) tail. When soap is dissolved in water, the hydrophilic heads face the water molecules, while the hydrophobic tails face away from the water molecules. This creates a micelle, which is a spherical cluster of soap molecules with the hydrophobic tails pointing inward.

When soap comes into contact with fat, the hydrophobic tails of the soap molecules are attracted to the fat molecules. This causes the fat molecules to be pulled away from the water and into the micelles. The micelles then carry the fat away from the surface of the object being cleaned.

The ability of soap to dissolve fat is important because it allows us to remove dirt and grime from our skin, clothing, and dishes. Soap also helps to keep our skin and hair clean and healthy by removing excess oil and dirt.