🥼organic chemistry review

Micelle

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

A micelle is a spherical aggregate of surfactant molecules dispersed in a liquid colloid, where the hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails are inward-facing and the hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads are outward-facing. This structure allows micelles to solubilize fatty substances in aqueous environments.

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