AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Emulsifiers work by forming physical barriers that keep droplets from coalescing. A type of surfactant (see Sidebar), emulsifiers contain both a hydrophilic (water-loving, or polar) head group and a hydrophobic (oil-loving, or nonpolar) tail. Therefore, emulsifiers are attracted to both polar and nonpolar compounds.

Detailed explanation-2: -Emulsifiers are the hand-holders of the molecule world. They contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and are able to attract and “hold hands” with polar and nonpolar molecules simultaneously, pulling them together to form a special type of mixture called an emulsion.

Detailed explanation-3: -Why? The soap molecule has two different ends, one that is hydrophilic (polar head) that binds with water and the other that is hydrophobic (non-polar hydrocarbon tail) that binds with grease and oil. Since soap molecules have both properties of non-polar and polar molecules soap can act as an emulsifier.

Detailed explanation-4: -“An emulsifier has both hydrophilic and lipophilic tendencies, basically meaning that it’s water-loving and fat-loving at the same time, so it will bring those two ingredients together and allow you to mix them, ” said Matt Gennrich, senior food scientist, Cargill.

Detailed explanation-5: -What do emulsifiers cause to mix, in order to form an emulsion? Emulsifiers are surfactants that cause oil and water to mix to form an emulsion.