Musk Oxen and Micelles

• John W. Hill ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Wisconsin–River Falls

     University of Wisconsin–River Falls

     City of River Falls, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 73, Nº 9 (September), 1996, págs. 847-847
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Musk oxen behavior provides an analogy to micelle formation by amphipathic substances. Mature male musk oxen protect their young and females from wolves by forming a protective circle around them. The males stand with their tails to the inside and their heads facing outward. Amphipathic substances such as soap form micelles. The hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails of the soap are turned to the inside of the micelle and the hydrophilic carboxylate heads are on the outside at the interface with the polar water molecules.