i means the reaction in making soap.
2007-01-01 02:28:04 · 3 answers · asked by Goandorser T 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Saponification is the hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of the acid. Saponification is commonly used to refer to the reaction of a metallic alkali (base) with a fat or oil to form soap. Saponifiable substances are those that can be converted into soap.
CH2-OOC-R - CH-OOC-R - CH2-OOC-R (fat) + 3 NaOH ( or KOH)
both heated →
CH2-OH -CH-OH - CH2-OH (glycerol) + 3 R-CO2-Na (soap) R=(CH2)14CH3 (for example)
Lye is a form of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which is a caustic base. If NaOH is used a hard soap is formed, whereas a soft soap is formed when potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used.
Vegetable oils and animal fats are fatty esters in the form of triglycerides. The alkali breaks the ester bond and releases the fatty acid and glycerol.
The soap is salted out by precipitating it with saturated sodium chloride.
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2007-01-01 03:03:11 · answer #1 · answered by Neo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saponifaction is the combination of fatty acids with sodium hydroxide (lye). I believe that in Washington State there was the famous case of a murder victim whose body was weighted down in a cold water lake where the bottom water was alkali. When brought up ten years later, pieces could be broken off to make soap suds. They caught the woman's murderer based on a sample of the rope he had used plus other incriminating evidence. He wanted mercy, but the judge said "no soap."
2007-01-01 11:03:21 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know it involves mixing fat with lye (wood ash soaked in water), but I can't give you the chemistry.
2007-01-01 10:30:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋