I heard that detergents, soaps, and surfactants have a polar end and a non-polar end, and are thus able to dissolve grease. But so do fatty acids; the carboxyl end (the acid part) is polar, and the long hydrocarbon tail is non-polar. So why don't fatty acids behave like soap? What's the difference?
by /u/Berkamin in /r/askscience
Upvotes: 7179
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