BEAUTIFUL

SOAP BUBBLES

When water is splashed into a sink, a few bubbles form as air becomes incorporated with the water, but because of water’s high surface tension they quickly disappear. When soap is added to the mix, the hydrophobic ends of the amphiphiles stick out of the water, separating the water molecules and lowering the surface tension. This lower surface tension means that the water molecules aren’t quite as inclined to stick together, and when air is incorporated, the bubbles form more easily and stick around for longer.