Why Does Soap Form Bubbles?

Soap is made up of interesting molecules. One end of these molecules is water loving, or hydrophilic. This hydrophilic property causes soap to spread itself out evenly across the surface of water. The other end of these molecules is hydrophobic, or water repelling. It stays away from the water. This hydrophobic end of the molecule is what collects the dirt, germs, and oil from the surface you are washing.These two properties combined are what allows soap to lather, clean, and rinse everything away with water. Bubbles form because when soap is added to water, it lowers the surface tension of the water. The soap molecules push their way between water molecules, and in the process separate water molecules from one another, reducing their attractive force. This creates a thin film that creates a sphere filled with air, because physics dictates a sphere is the easiest way to contain a volume of air. Now you have a soap bubble!