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Why was poison ivy with soap hydrophobic?

(a) Soap repels water
(b) Poison ivy has a waxy coating
(c) Hydrophobic substances repel water
(d) Soap neutralizes hydrophobic properties

User Elsy
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Soap is hydrophobic because it has hydrophobic tails that repel water while its hydrophilic heads attract water. This helps soap break apart oily substances in water and form micelles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Soap is hydrophobic because of its dual nature. The hydrocarbon tail of soap molecules is hydrophobic and dissolves in oils, while the head of the soap molecule is hydrophilic and dissolves in water. When soap is added to water, the hydrophobic tails repel water while the hydrophilic heads attract water. This allows soap to break apart oily substances and form micelles, which disperse throughout the water.

User JustLudo
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