Science Secrets · Drawing 36 of 40
Soap Helps Water Carry Grease Away
Everyday Inventions
Water alone does not easily wash away grease. Soap breaks the grease into tiny drops that water can carry away. Washing dishes is like a little science lab!
Did you know?
A soap molecule is a tiny particle: one end is drawn to water, the other to grease.
Look together
Which objects help wash this plate?
An idea to try
With an adult, compare water and a little oil in a closed container before and after adding a drop of soap. Do not taste it.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Soap and detergents contain amphiphilic molecules. They help disperse grease, without all grease truly dissolving in water.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified scene and shapes. Models, imagined comparisons and enlargements do not preserve all real measurements.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Science World: BubblesA soap molecule has two ends: one avoids water and attaches to oil, the other attaches to water; soap helps attach oily dirt to water so it can be washed away from clothes and dishes.
Page prepared on October 12, 2026. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
This drawing is from the book Science Secrets to Colour
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