Saponification

Saponification is the chemical reaction that produces soap from fats/oils and an alkaline solution. It is a
key process in soap making and involves the hydrolysis (breakdown by water) of fats or oils into fatty
acids and glycerol in the presence of an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for solid soap or
potassium hydroxide (KOH) for liquid soap. Here's a detailed explanation of the saponification process:

In saponification, triglycerides, which are molecules composed of three fatty acid chains attached to a
glycerol backbone, react with an alkali to form soap molecules and glycerol (also known as glycerin).

During saponification, the alkali (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) reacts with the ester bonds
in the triglyceride molecule, breaking them apart.

This results in the formation of soap molecules, which are the sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids.
The fatty acids combine with the alkali ions to form the soap, while the glycerol is released as a
byproduct.

Saponification typically occurs in a heated environment, as elevated temperatures accelerate the

reaction rate.

The fats or oils are melted and mixed with the alkali solution, and the mixture is heated to a specific
temperature range suitable for saponification to occur efficiently.

The exact temperature and duration of heating depend on factors such as the type of fats/oils used and
the desired properties of the soap.