Experiment No……. Date: ………..

Soap Preparation

Objective: To prepare soap in the laboratory and carry out its cost analysis.

Materials Required:
1. Vegetable Oil
2. Sodium hydroxide
3. Common salt
Principle:
Saponification

Procedure:
1. Measure approximately 25 g of oil into a 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask, recording the exact
mass used. Add 30 mL 20% (m/v) NaOH solution.
2. Heat the mixture in a hot water bath for about 20 min with constant, vigorous, stirring.
Keep a close watch on your flask, being prepared to lift the flask out of the water bath
for a moment if it looks as though it might be about to boil over.
3. To precipitate out the soap, add 15 g sodium chloride solution to the soap mixture while
stirring vigorously. This process increases the density of the aqueous solution, solidifies
the soap.
4. Filter the precipitated soap using vacuum filtration and wash it with two 10 mL portions
of ice-cold water.
5. Observe and record the appearance of the soap.
6. You may choose to mold your soap or add fragrance. If so desired, gently melt your
soap, add fragrance or dye and pour into a mold. It will take at least a week for the soap
to finish drying in the mold.

Precautions:

1. As it is heating, some of the solution will evaporate. You must make sure that the
volume does not decrease too much, so you will need to add more liquid as the
 reaction progresses. Also, do not let the mixture overheat or foam over, and do not
allow it to boil to dryness! If this happens, you will need to start over.
2. Wear goggles at all times, because NaOH can cause eye damage.
3. The soap may still contain NaOH, so avoid skin contact with it.
4. Use plastic gloves if possible.

Cost Analysis:

Sr. No. Raw material used Amount (Kg) Rate Cost

(Per Kg)

1 Veg. oil 25
2 NaOH
3 Common salt
4 Water
5 Utility cost
6
Total cost

Result:

Soap weight: …………………..g

Soap price: ………………….Rs/g

Quiz:
1. Soaps are _____________ based soapy detergents.
a) Water
b) Kerosene
c) Oil
d) Acid

2. The saponification of a fat or oil is done using _______________ solution for hot
process.
a) KOH
b) NaOH
 c) HCl
d) NaCl

3. The saponification of a fat or oil is done using _______________ solution for cold
process.
a) KOH
b) NaOH
c) HCl
d) NaCl

4. Soft soaps are the limitation of hot process because of their ____________
a) High alkalinity
b) Low alkalinity
c) Low solubility in water
d) High solubility in water

5. Select the incorrect statement from the following option.

a) Hard soaps are the sodium carboxylates
b) Soft soaps are potassium carboxylates
c) Hard soaps are manufactured by cold process
d) Example of soft soap – shampoo and shaving cream

Marks: Signature