saponification
Quick Summary
Saponification is a chemical reaction that forms the basis of all soapmaking. In this process, a hot caustic alkali solution, such as sodium hydroxide, reacts with natural fats or oils. This reaction produces a sodium fatty acid salt, which is soap, and glycerin. If industrially produced fatty acids are used instead of natural fats or oils, the reaction yields soap and water.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
soap and detergentEarly soap production…soap (this reaction is called saponification).
Read More…soap (this reaction is called saponification).
Read More- soap and detergentCold and semiboiled methods
The mass saponifies in the kettle and is poured from there into frames, where it solidifies. Because these methods are technically simple and because they require very little investment for machinery, they are ideal for small factories.
Read MoreThe mass saponifies in the kettle and is poured from there into frames, where it solidifies. Because these methods are technically simple and because they require very little investment for machinery, they are ideal for small factories.
Read More
carboxylic acidReactions…hydrolysis is base is called saponification, because soap (Latin: sapo) has always been manufactured by heating fats (which are carboxylic esters) with water and a basic substance (originally wood ash). Soap is a mixture of salts of long-chain fatty acids. Whether hydrolyzed with an acid or a base, the products…
Read More…hydrolysis is base is called saponification, because soap (Latin: sapo) has always been manufactured by heating fats (which are carboxylic esters) with water and a basic substance (originally wood ash). Soap is a mixture of salts of long-chain fatty acids. Whether hydrolyzed with an acid or a base, the products…
Read More
ester…(lye) or sodium—a reaction called saponification—is utilized in the preparation of soaps from fats and oils and is also used for the quantitative estimation of esters. Wet chemical fire extinguishers, which are used for fires that involve fats and oils, rely on saponification reactions to convert burning fats to soap,…
Read More…(lye) or sodium—a reaction called saponification—is utilized in the preparation of soaps from fats and oils and is also used for the quantitative estimation of esters. Wet chemical fire extinguishers, which are used for fires that involve fats and oils, rely on saponification reactions to convert burning fats to soap,…
Read More
stearic acidAlkaline hydrolysis, or saponification, of fats yields soaps, which are the sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids; pure stearic acid is obtained with difficulty from such a mixture by crystallization, vacuum distillation, or chromatography of the acids or suitable derivatives. The pure acid undergoes chemical reactions typical…
Read MoreAlkaline hydrolysis, or saponification, of fats yields soaps, which are the sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids; pure stearic acid is obtained with difficulty from such a mixture by crystallization, vacuum distillation, or chromatography of the acids or suitable derivatives. The pure acid undergoes chemical reactions typical…
Read More