My transparent glycerine soap gets a build up of opaque soap that no longer makes it transparent. Should I remove them or is it just the way it behaves upon frequent use?
2007-02-08 13:35:38 · 2 answers · asked by jet 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Chemically speaking, transparent soap is actually the potassium salt of "fatty acids". White soap like Ivory is actually the sodium salt. Potassium ion of soap can be displaced by other ions, and this is probably what is happening. What the scum actually is will depend on if you have a water softener in your home - if you do, the scum is the sodium salt; if you don't, the scum is probably the calcium salt (from hard water). If you are not sure, the sodium salt will easily dissolve in water, but the calcium salt will be very difficult to dissolve. I see no reason not to remove either impurity if they offend your sense of aesthetics.
2007-02-09 00:36:32 · answer #1 · answered by Glenguin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tricky aspect. research on google. that will will help!
2014-10-31 01:13:27 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋