how is soap made and why can it remove dirt and grease?

Answer 1

Ingredients

Oils and fats for soap are compounds of glycerin and a fatty acid. When oils are mixed with an alkali, they form glycerin and the sodium salt of the fatty acid. The fatty acids required for soap making are supplied by tallow, grease, fish oils, and vegetable oils. The hardness, lathering qualities, and transparency of soap vary according to the combinations of fats and alkalis used as ingredients. An experienced soap crafter uses many combinations of oils.

How does it work?

Most soaps remove grease and dirt because some of their components are surfactants (surface-active agents). Surfactants have a molecular structure that acts as a link between water and the dirt particles. This loosens the particles from the underlying fibers or surfaces to be cleaned. One end of the molecule is hydrophilic (attracted to water), and the other is hydrophobic (attracted to substances that are not water soluble). This peculiar structure allows soap to adhere to substances that are otherwise insoluble in water. The dirt is then washed away with the soap.

Answer 2

Look up the history of soap and remember that it is a 'surfactant'. It doesn't clean but it changes the surface tension of water enabling the water to act as the cleaning agent.

Try this experiment: fill a glass with water to the very top. Place a paper clip carefully on top, it will float on the top of the water due to the surface tension. Next fill another glass with slightly soapy water and check the results.....

Answer 3

Traditional soap is made using Lye (Sodium Hydroxide), Water and grease/fat (Lard, Shortening, and/or Oils). In a nutshell, its mixed together and allowed to harden over a month or more.

As for HOW soap works, check out this site which can explain it better than I can:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question692.htm

Answer 4

http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa081301a.htm
check that site for your answer, hope it helps!

:-)