\tSoaps are cleansing agents capable of reacting with water and dislodging the unwanted particles from clothes or skin.\t\xa0The molecules of soap are sodium or potassium salts of long chain carboxylic acids.\t A soap molecule has a tadpole-shaped structure.\t At one end (long non-polar end) of the soap molecule is a hydrocarbon chain which is insoluble in water but soluble in oil.\t At the other end (short polar end) of soap molecule, there is a carboxylate ion which is hydrophilic i.e. water soluble but insoluble in oil.