Soap is a product that is used with water for washing and cleaning. Soap is made out of natural oils or fats with sodium hydroxide or another strong alkali, and typically having perfume and coloring added. The chemical process used to make soap is called saponification. This is when the oxygen atom picks up the sodium atom from the sodium hydroxide and makes is soluble in water. When the fatty acids are removed, ethanol appears and allows it to take place ar a medium heat. When heating, the ethanol and water evaporate. The glycerol is removed by adding water and a saturated solution of salt water. This process is known as “salting out” the soap.

 

How soap cleans

 

Soap molecules have two different ends; hydrophilic and hydrophobic. Hydraphophiles love water and hydrophobic hate water. Hydrophilic ends attach themselves to an oil molecules and then the hydrophilic ends attach to water around the oil. Through this process, the soap molecules clean your dirty skin and then are washed off with water.

 

4 different ways to make soap

There are many ways to create soap. One way is called the Melt and Pour method, The Melt and Pour method is by making or buying a clear soap, melting the soap down, color and fragrance the soap, pour it into a mold, and let it form. Another process is called the Cold Process. The Cold process is made by mixing fatty acids and sodium hydroxide together. The fatty acids can be any oil such as: olive oil, coconut, etc. Another process is called the Hot process. The Hot process is when you take all your ingredients and add them to a pot over a stove or heating source. Then you mix the ingredients until soap goes through various stages. When soap is cooled, it is ready to use.