Soap chemistry involves the process of saponification, where fats or oils react with an alkali, typically sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. This reaction breaks down the triglycerides in fats into glycerol and fatty acid salts, which we know as soap. The fatty acid salts have hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties, allowing soap to effectively clean surfaces by trapping dirt and grease. The structure of soap molecules consists of a long hydrocarbon chain that is hydrophobic and a carboxylate head that is hydrophilic. When soap is mixed with water, the hydrophobic tails attach to grease and oil, while the hydrophilic heads remain in the water, forming micelles. This unique structure enables soap to emulsify and wash away dirt, making it an essential cleaning agent in everyday life.