Many think it is best to go for the soaps that lather well and washes dishes, leaving them clean and residue-free when it comes to dish soaps.
However, others choose to go for multipurpose soaps that don’t do dishes and are effective in other areas, such as making bubbles. However, a question comes up, Which dish soap makes the most bubbles?
Dawn dish soap makes the most bubbles; this is because of the active ingredients found in it. It is thicker in comparison to other thin soaps and hence makes it best for economical use too. It acts as a surfactant, which breaks the cohesive force that attracts water molecules to each other and allows the formation of bubbles.
Which Dish Soap makes the Best Bubbles?
The mixture can make bubbles using any soap and water mixture, but the best bubbles are made by adding Dawn dish soap.
The bubble-producing secret of soaps is found in the chemistry of soap molecules. When soap and water molecules mix, it results in water separation into small fractions to form bubbles. These soap molecules, which are also found in Dawn dish soap, are cut differently across;
- The hydrophilic end which attracts water
- The hydrophobic end which repels water
One end of a soap molecule attracted to water forms a bond with each water molecule, heightening the distance between them. This phenomenon facilitates the formation of bubbles.
Another end of the soap molecule, which repels water, crowds to the surface, avoids water and clasps out of the layer of water molecules. This thereby increases the length between these water molecules, breaking the cohesive force enabling bubbles to form.
When Soap mixes with water, these opposite ends of soap molecules comprise a tiny layer of water amid themselves, which designs a thin haze consisting of a tiny bit of air otherwise known as bubbles.
Dawn dish soaps make the best bubble because they last longer than others. This is because it contains very active ingredients such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Alkyldimethylamine oxide, etc.
These are very strong surfactants used in cleaning products found at home. Consequently, they help break the cohesive force between water molecules and separate them, making the formation of bubbles easier and more durable.
Why Does Dawn Make the Most Bubbles?
Dawn makes the most bubbles because it is a soapy dish detergent made with a foaming agent, and when added to water, it reduces the surface tension to enable the formation of bubbles. In addition, the molecules in this soap increase the gap between water molecules. It also lowers the ability of those water molecules to relate to each other, thus leaving more room to create bubbles.
Bubbles are air enmeshed in a liquid. The outer and inner parts of bubbles consist of soap molecules. A thin layer of moisture lies between the soap molecule and can be likened to a water sandwich with the soap molecules as bread.
They both work hand in hand to hold air inside. The surface of liquids, like water, has a surface tension that makes its exterior behave as elastic skin. The soap permits the skin to spread further and keeps the bubbles from crushing.
Surface tension is a force that influences the surface of a liquid to act like a stretched elastic skin, and therefore resist any external force due to cohesion. Therefore, Dawn makes the most bubbles because it comprises glycerin.
Bubbles do not materialize or are short-lived when the layers of water between soap molecules dry off. Then, the glycerin comes in; it forms a weak bond with the water molecules and slows down the loss of water content.
The construction of bubbles when two fluids are combined indicates that gas has been formed.
The water used in bubble solutions also influences the dish soap forming bubbles, so soft water is advised as hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions, which ruin soap lathers.
How Can I Make My Bubbles Stronger?
Glycerin, corn syrup, Salts, vegetable oil, honey, agave nectar, sorbitol, and other sweeteners are active ingredients used to make bubbles stronger. They also make them last longer. However, a block of good dish soap is important for the bubble solution too.
1. Glycerin
The mixture of glycerin with the soap gives it a thicker structure. Water is also prevented from drying quickly due to the thickness of the glycerin’s bubble’s skin. As a result, these bubbles last longer.
2. Corn Syrup
Corn syrup creates weak bonds with the molecules of water. It does this by loosening up the bond between water molecules, reducing the surface tension, allowing it to extend and envelope air to form bubbles.
Its physical property of being a thickener further strengthens the dish soap present and makes the bubble last longer.
3. Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil acts as a substitute in the absence of glycerin. It prevents water from evaporating quickly and makes the wall of the soap bubbles stronger.
4. Sodium Chloride (Salts)
Salts are known to hinder bubble clumping by changing the surface tension and movement of the bubble. In addition, it gives the dish soap a thick gel consistency, and this thickness makes the bubble last longer.
The salt in the water stops the bubbles from melding together as they do in pure water. Additionally, the presence of the salt ions in the water keeps them stable for a longer time”.
5. Honey
Honey is used to make homemade bubble solutions. Lukewarm water is used to dissolve the honey and add the dish to it. The sugar content in it helps boost the lather. It also acts as a humectant, attracting moisture in the air and helping bubbles last longer.
6. Sorbitol
This is a sweetener, just like honey, and has sugar in it, which also aids the formation of lather. It also acts as a humectant. Dish soap is a very important part of the bubble solution.
It is a surfactant with both hydrophilic/ hydrophobic ends, making them compatible with water and oil and lowering the surface tension so bubbles can form. It also makes the bubbles last by slowing how quickly they dry out.
Bernoulli’s principle states that pressure influences the longevity of bubbles produced on a hot and humid day as they’ll pop sooner than those formed on a cold, clear day when there is less atmospheric pressure.
Conclusion
The ability of dish soap to make more bubbles depends on the active chemical ingredients used to produce it. Dawn is the best-selling dish soap in the US and is recommended for the use of making bubbles.
It is used as a surfactant reducing surface tension and contains glycerin, which makes bubbles durable. The addition of other ingredients such as corn syrup and sweeteners make bubbles stronger and last longer too.
