Answer to Question #339102 in Cell Biology for Phoenix

Question #339102

Why is soap effective in killing coronavirus? What structural part gets targeted by soap and how? Be specific in

explaining the structure details


1
Expert's answer
2022-05-13T04:28:01-0400

Soap is a surface-active agent.

A soap molecule consists of a “head” that is hydrophilic — attracted to water — and a long hydrocarbon “tail” made of hydrogen and carbon atoms that is hydrophobic — or repelled by water. When soap molecules dissolve in water, they arrange themselves into micelles, which are spherical clusters of soap molecules with the water-attracting heads on the outside and water-repelling tails on the inside.


The coronavirus has a core of genetic material surrounded by an outer sheath that’s a double layer of fats with protein spikes. This fatty sheath is water-repelling and protects the virus.


When you wash your hands with soap and water, you surround any microorganisms on your skin with soap molecules. The hydrophobic tails of the free-floating soap molecules attempt to evade water; in the process, they wedge themselves into the lipid envelopes of viruses, prying them apart.


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