Making Soap “Soaponification” Saponification Making Soap “Soaponification”

Saponification Reaction: Fat + Lye  Soap + Glycerol

Lye - Caustic solution made from ashes. Soda Lye = NaOH Potash Lye = KOH Combining potash K2CO3 with slaked lime Ca(OH)2 yields KOH and CaCO3 NaOH obtained from reacting sodium compounds.

O H C17H35-C-O-C-H + NaOH  O H Fat Lye (Triglyceride)

O H C17H35-C-ONa H-C-OH O C17H35-C-ONa + H-C-OH H Soap! Glycerol

How does it happen?? O Break the ester linkages C – O- by hydrolyzing the bonds between the carbon backbone and the fatty acid chains. (Reversal of esterification reaction) Form the sodium salt of a fatty acid (soap) and a trihydroxy alcohol (glycerol).

The Chemistry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponification

Organic Reaction: Slow! Must break covalent bonds. Refluxing: Technique which allows a volatile solvent to boil, condense and return to the reaction vessel. It helps to maintain a fairly constant temperature throughout the reaction period.

BUMPING!!! When superheated liquids above their boiling point suddenly boil. Large bubbles cause liquid to shoot out of container. Add boiling chips to prevent bumping.

Strange but true… Fat in cadavers: saponifies if conditions are right. Alkalai environment, moist, minimal oxygen. Adipocere or grave wax is formed.