Bubbles are the most iconic aspect of soap. But what are they? First we start with how they are formed. Amazingly, water has a pretty substantial surface tension, this means it will go back to its original form whenever possible. When we introduce soap into water, the soap molecules separate the water molecules from each other, reducing the surface tension and allowing bubbles to form. If there is a lot of soap, which makes a lot of bubbles, this is called a foam. We’ve talked about how soap can carry germs away (see “How does soap work?”) because it is compatible with both oil and water (see “What is soap?”). This double personality is also essential for the structure of a bubble. The outer edge of a bubble is called the film. It is made from soap and water. If you look super close (OOPS! You popped it on your nose.) you would see the film looks a bit like a sandwich with the soap molecules as top & bottom bread and a water filling in between. This film wraps spherically around a pocket of air. They become this shape because a sphere takes the least amount of energy to make, (it is the least amount of surface area for a given volume of air). This is a very important concept called “minimal surface”. It is a mathematical problem that has caused breakthroughs in design such as better web-like roofs and innovative computer programs. A bubble is not only a clever shape but it’s also visually beautiful. The appearance of a bubble is fascinating with its iridescent surface. The kaleidoscope of colors is possible because the film of the bubble causes interference to light when it passes through. This occurs both on the outer surface and inner surface of the film increasing the interference therefor increasing the multi-faceted color appearance. Like all beauty, bubbles of course do not last indefinitely, even on their own. The air inside the bubble slowly leeches out while gravity forces the water in the film to fall to the bottom. This causes the bubble to shrink and the film to become too thin and then POP! Of course, there are a lot more fun ways to burst a bubble. It’s shape, colors and delicate nature has caused bubbles to be a fascinating form of entertainment for children and adults alike. Inventors have even created dog & cat bubble toys, scented with enticing catnip and dog treat aromas. There is even a term for someone who makes bubbles professionally, they are called a Bubbleologist. After this blog, maybe we can become bubbleologist ourselves! Pro tip: Glycerin is the secret to good bubbles. “What is glycerin?”. You will just have to wait and find out in my next microBLOG.

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