Explain the cleansing action for detergents.?

Detergents are a type of surface active agent or surfactant that consists of a hydrophobic ';tail'; (usually hydrocarbon) and a hydrophilic ';head'; (this may be from a range of anionic, non-ionic, cationic or zwitterionic chemical groups). In aqueous solution the surfactant molecules tend to form ';micelle'; structures in order to keep their tails together and away from the solution phase. It is possible for the oily molecules in most dirt to enter the centre of these micelles and therefore be effectively dispersed in the water and washed away. This process proceeds much more rapidly with some mechanical action which is why scrubbing, mixing etc. is usually required.


However, commercial detergent systems are usually quite complex and include a range of other chemicals as well as the surfactant(s) in order to improve the effectiveness of the composition.Explain the cleansing action for detergents.?
A detergent is made of long molecules: the long C-H chain end dissolves in grease (which is also typically a C-H chain of some kind) and the other end has some kind of polar bond which then dissolves in water. All the little chains make a little globe with their polar parts sticking into the water and the nonpolar ends sticking into the (very small) grease blob and it floats away off the dishes.