Catanduanes State University

College of Education
Virac, Catanduanes

SAPONIFICATION
Discussion
Saponification is simply the process of making soaps. Soaps are just potassium or
sodium salts of long-chain fatty acids. During saponification, ester reacts with an inorganic
base to produce alcohol and soap.
Generally, it occurs when triglycerides are reacted with potassium or sodium
hydroxide (lye) to produce glycerol and fatty acid salt, called ‘soap’.
Triglycerides are generally animal fats and vegetable oils. When they are reacted with
sodium hydroxide, a hard form of soap is created. This is where potassium comes in and
creates a softer version of the soap.
The equation can be written as:

Ester + Base ————–> Alcohol + Soap

Saponification Reaction Mechanism

Orthoester formation:

Expulsion of carboxylic acid and alkoxide:

Creation of alcohol:
 Catanduanes State University
College of Education
Virac, Catanduanes

Examples of a Saponification Reaction:

In a saponification reaction, a base (for example sodium hydroxide) reacts with any fat
to form glycerol and soap molecules. One of the saponification reactions taking triglyceride as
an ester and sodium hydroxide as the base is as follows:

In this reaction, triglyceride reacts with sodium hydroxide (a strong base) and glycerol
is produced (an acid) along with soap (sodium palmitate). Similarly, potassium soap can be
formed if a strong potassium base (like KOH) is reacted with an ester. This reaction is as
follows:

It should be noted that for cleaning purposes, only potassium and sodium soaps are
used. Based on the base used, soaps can either be hard soaps or soft soaps. In general,
potassium soaps are soft and sodium soaps are hard. Visit the cleansing action of soaps and
detergents to know how dirt is removed from objects.
 Catanduanes State University
College of Education
Virac, Catanduanes

What type of reaction is saponification?

Saponification is a type of chemical reaction in which ester molecules are broken to
create a functional group of carboxylic acid and alcohol. A collection of molecules or atoms
that we can readily recognize in a compound is a functional group. To produce soap goods,
this reaction is most widely used.

Procedure
Measure approximately 20ml of cooking oil. Add 10 ml 20% sodium hydroxide and
heat the solution gently over a hot plate with continuous stirring for 10-20 minutes. Make sure
that the temperature remains below 60%. After 30 minutes, add another portion of sodium
hydroxide and 10 ml ethanol. Stir, continue heating the solution to boiling. Add another 10 ml
of sodium hydroxide and heat. Test for completeness of saponification by getting a small
portion of the sample and dropping it to water. If no trace of oil is seen, then saponification is
complete. If not, add another portion of sodium hydroxide and ethanol
Perfumes and food color may be added at this stage. If saponification is complete,
remove the beaker from the hot plate and pour the solution into 150 ml of cold saturated
sodium chloride. Filter the soap produced and wash with plenty of cold water.
Place the soap produced in a molder and allow it to dry completely. Submit the soap
to your instructor.

Materials

Reagents Equipment
20% NaOH Beaker
NaCl Alcohol Lamp
Cooking Oil Glass Rod (Stirrer)
Ethanol Tripod ( not use)
Water Graduated Cylinder
Lemon Flavor Filter Paper (No available)
Food Color Litmus Paper
Funnel
Spatula
Molder
 Catanduanes State University
College of Education
Virac, Catanduanes

Set-Up

Beaker

Stirrer

Oil
NaOH

Mini stove (Bunsen Burner)

SAPONIFICATION PROCESS

Results
 Catanduanes State University
College of Education
Virac, Catanduanes

Guide Question
1. What is the use of cold saturated sodium chloride in the saponification reaction?

The fatty acids react with salts and get precipitated out as soap due to the
common ion effect and glycerol remains in the salt solution being soluble in salt
solution. The fatty acids are soluble in the alkaline solution used for hydrolysis and
that’s why, salt is added so that sodium salt of fatty acid is formed and it gets
precipitated out. Therefore, sodium chloride is used in the soap industry for soap’s
precipitation. Remember soaps are prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of fats or oils.
Soaps are salts of fatty acids having a long chain of more than 12 carbon atoms. Soaps
are insoluble in salt solution and precipitate out due to common ion effects. Glycerol is
soluble in salt solution.

Conclusion
Saponification is the process in which triglycerides are combined with a strong base to
form fatty acid metal salts during the soap-making process. The distribution of unsaturated
and saturated fatty acid determines the hardness, aroma, cleansing, lather, and moisturizing
abilities of soaps

Reference:

General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR) Guidelines BYJU’S. (2021, March

22). BYJUS. https://byjus.com/chemistry/saponification/

Sodium chloride is used in the soap industry for soap’s ______.(A)

decomposition(B) removal of hardness(C) precipitation(D) none of the

above. (2022, August 18). https://www.vedantu.com/question-

answer/sodium-chloride-is-used-in-the-soap-industry-for-class-12-

chemistry-cbse-5f70f8ff5c62073a0c6caf89
Catanduanes State University
College of Education
Virac, Catanduanes

DOCUMENTATION

Esteban Angelo Sales

BSED-SCIENCE 2E