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Soap is made up of interesting little molecules that have a hydrophilic head, which means that it bonds with water, and a hydrophobic tail, which means it avoids water and instead looks for oils or lipids to bond with. When soap and water interact, the soap molecules arrange themselves with their hydrophobic tails tucked together while the water-loving heads of the molecules face outward, looking to bond with water. Meanwhile, many viruses and bacteria (including COVID-19, the HIV virus and hepatitis B) have lipid membranes, or outer walls.
When you wash your hands with soap and water, you’re spreading those tiny little soap molecules all over your hands. As you’re washing, the hydrophobic ends of the molecules wedge themselves into the membranes of viruses and bacteria, causing them to rupture and break apart.
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