Soaps are made by reacting fats with _______?

CONCEPT:

Soap Formation (Saponification)

• Soaps are formed through a chemical reaction called saponification, which involves the reaction between fats (or oils) and an alkali.
• Fats are primarily composed of triglycerides, which are esters of fatty acids and glycerol.
• During saponification, the triglycerides react with a strong base (such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) to produce soap and glycerol.

EXPLANATION:

• In the context of soap formation:
  • The alkali used in the reaction is typically sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH).
  • Sodium hydroxide produces harder soaps, whereas potassium hydroxide produces softer or liquid soaps.
• Reaction example:

  Fat + Sodium hydroxide → Soap + Glycerol

• Soaps are made by reacting fats with sodium, specifically sodium hydroxide.

Therefore, soaps are made by reacting fats with sodium hydroxide.