From ancient Babylon to modern bathrooms, soap has shaped human hygiene for over 5,000 years. But how does it really work? Chemistry reveals that soap’s unique molecular structure allows it to break down both water-loving and water-fearing grime. More than just cleaning dirt, it also disrupts harmful microbes — explaining why your mom was right all alongread moreThousands of years ago, our ancestors discovered something that would clean their bodies and clothes. As the story goes, fat from someone’s meal fell into the leftover ashes of a fire. They were astonished to discover that the blending of fat and ashes formed a material that cleaned things. At the time, it must have seemed like magic.That’s the legend, anyway. However it happened, the discovery of soap
dates back approximately 5,000 years, to the ancient city of Babylon in what was southern Mesopotamia – today, the
country of Iraq.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADAs the centuries passed, people around the world began to use soap to clean the things that got dirty. During the 1600s, soap was a common item in the American colonies,
often made at home. In 1791, Nicholas Leblanc, a French chemist, patented the
first soapmaking process. Today, the world spends
about US$50 billion every year on bath, kitchen and laundry soap.More from Health
Soap’s secret superpower: How did this ancient discovery revolutionise cleanliness?
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Mane Talk: Why humans aren’t as hairy as other mammalsBut although billions of people use soap every day, most of us don’t know how it works. As a
professor of chemistry, I can explain the science of soap – and why you should listen to your mom when she tells you to wash up.The chemistry of cleanWater – scientific name:
dihydrogen monoxide – is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. That molecule is required for all life on our planet.Chemists categorise other molecules that are attracted to water as
hydrophilic, which means water-loving. Hydrophilic molecules can dissolve in water.So if you were to wash your hands under a running faucet without using soap, you’d probably get rid of lots of whatever hydrophilic bits are stuck to your skin.Editor’s Picks1From ancient mummies to drug resistance: 10 facts about Malaria you need to know2Why US is planning to remove artificial food dyes from cereals, candiesBut there is another category of molecules that chemists call
hydrophobic, which means water-fearing. Hydrophobic molecules do not dissolve in water.Oil is an example of something that’s hydrophobic. You probably know from experience that oil and water just don’t mix. Picture shaking up a jar of vinaigrette salad dressing – the oil and the other watery ingredients never stay mixed.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADSo just swishing your hands through water isn’t going to get rid of water-fearing molecules such as oil or grease.Here’s where soap comes in to save the day.Soap, a complex molecule, is both water-loving and water-fearing. Shaped like a tadpole, the soap molecule has
a round head and long tail; the head is hydrophilic, and the tail is hydrophobic. This quality is one of the reasons
soap is slippery.It’s also what gives soap its cleaning superpower.A microscopic viewTo see what happens when you wash your hands with soap and water, let’s zoom in.Picture all the gunk that you touch during the day and that builds up on your skin to make your hands dirty. Maybe there are smears of food, mud from outside, or even sweat and oils from your own skin.All of that material is either water-loving or water-fearing on the molecular level. Dirt is a jumbled mess of both. Dust and dead skin cells
are hydrophilic; naturally occurring oils
are hydrophobic; and environmental debris can be either.If you use only water to clean your hands, plenty will be left behind because you’d only remove the water-loving bits that dissolve in water.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADBut when you add a bit of soap, it’s a different story, thanks to its simultaneously water-loving and water-fearing properties.Soap molecules come together and surround the grime on your hands, forming what’s known as a
micelle structure. On a molecular level, it looks almost like a bubble encasing the hydrophobic bit of debris. The water-loving heads of the soap molecules are on the surface, with the water-fearing tails inside the micelle. This structure traps the dirt, and running water washes it all away.To get the full effect, wash your hands at the sink for
at least 20 seconds. Rubbing your hands together helps force the soap molecules into whatever dirt is there to break it up and envelope it.It’s not just dirtAlong with dirt, your body
is covered by microorganisms – bacteria, viruses and fungi. Most are harmless and some even protect you from getting sick. But some microorganisms, known as pathogens, can
cause illness and disease.They can also cause you to smell if you haven’t taken a bath in a while. These bacteria break down organic molecules and
release stinky fumes.Although microorganisms are protected by a barrier –
it’s called a membrane – soap and water can disrupt the membrane, causing the microorganism to burst open. The water then washes the remains of the microorganism away, along with the stink.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADTo say that soap changed the course of civilisation is an understatement. For thousands of years, it’s helped keep billions of people healthy. Think of that the next time Mom or Dad asks you to wash up – which will likely be sometime soon.Paul E. Richardson, Professor of Biochemistry, Coastal Carolina UniversityThis article is republished from
The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the
original article here.TagsHealthEnd of Article
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Soap’s secret superpower: How did this ancient discovery revolutionise cleanliness?
