PRACTICAL 6: SOAPS AND DETERGENTS Aim: To prepare soap using the saponification process.

Theoretical Knowledge: Soap is a cleansing agent that is used to remove organic dirt. When added into water, soap molecules will dissociate into sodium or potassium ions and soap ions. Soap ions consists of two parts which are head that consists of the anion region, is ionic, called as hydrophilic region and dissolves in water. While its tail consists of the hydrocarbon region.its molecule has covalent characteristics, called as hydrophobic and dissolves in grease or oil. Saponification is the hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of a carboxylic acid(carboxylates). Saponification is commonly used to refer to the reaction of a metallic alkali (base) with a fat or oil to form soap. Saponifiable substances are those that can be converted into soap.

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a caustic base. If NaOH is used a hard soap is formed, whereas when potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used, a soft soap is formed. Vegetable oils and animal fats are fatty esters in the form oftriglycerides. The alkali breaks the ester bond and releases the fatty acid salt and glycerol. If necessary, soaps may be precipitated by salting it out with saturated sodium chloride.

The saponification value is the amount of base required to saponify a fat sample.

Problem statement: Does the soap can be prepared by saponification process? Hypothesis: Soap can be prepared through the saponification process.

Material/Apparatus: Palm oil, sodium hydroxide solution, sodium chloride powder, filter paper, distilled water, beaker, measuring cylinder, spatula, glass rod, filter funnel, wire gauze, tripod stand, Bunsen burner and test tube. Procedures: 1) 10 cm3 of palm oil is poured into a beaker. 2) 50 cm3 of 5 mol-3 of sodium hydroxide solution is added to the palm oil. 3) The mixture is heated until it boils. 4) The mixture is stir by using a glass rod. 5) The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes. 6) The beaker is removed from the heat. 50 cm 3 of distilled water and three spatulaful of sodium chloride are added into the mixture. 7) The mixture is boiled for another 5 minutes. 8) The mixture is allowed to cool. 9) The soap is filtered by using a filter paper. Then the soap is washed by using a little distilled water. 10) The soap is pressed between a piece of filter paper to dry it.

11) Feel the soap with your finger. A small amount of the soap is placed into a test tube. Tap water is added into the test tube and shakes the mixture. 12) The observation is recorded. Arrangement of apparatus to make soap by saponification process Results: Tests on the white solid Touch with fingers Shake with water Red litmus paper Observation Smooth Many bubbles are produced Red litmus changes to blue colour

Discussion: As we know, the white solid that is produced is an alkaline soap. When sodium hydroxide solution is added, the process of saponification occurs to produce sodium salt fatty acid, which is soap. The process of boiling vegetable oil with an alkaline solution also causes the hydrolysis of the oil. Sodium salt is added to lower the solubility of soap in water so that the soap is precipitated out. Soaps are useful for cleaning because soap molecules have both a hydrophilic end, which dissolves in water, as well as a hydrophobic end, which is able to dissolve nonpolar grease molecules. Although grease will normally adhere to skin or clothing, the soap molecules can form micelles which surround the grease particles and allow them to be dissolved in water. Applied to a soiled surface, soapy water effectively holds particles in colloidal suspension so it can be rinsed off with clean water. The hydrophobic portion (made up of a long hydrocarbon chain) dissolves dirt and oils, while the ionic end dissolves in water. Therefore, it allows water to remove normally-insoluble matter by emulsification. In other words, while normally oil and water do not mix, the addition of soap allows oils to dissolve in water, allowing them to be rinsed away.
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Conclusion: Soap can be prepared through the saponification process, boiling pali oil with a sodium hydroxide solution. Hypothesis is accepted. Precautions: 1) The mixture is boiled slowly to make sure that it will not affect the saponification process. 2) Make sure that wear goggles or safety glasses at all times in the laboratory especially when doing saponification process. 3) Remeber that sodium hydroxide is caustic. Avoid skin contact. In the event of contact with your skin, was the affected areas well with water until your skin no longer feels soapy. If redness occurs, consult qualified medical assistance. Questions: 1) Describe the properties of the soap produce. Harder bar, more lather, very smooth and more bubbles. 2) What is the function of sodium chloride in this experiment? To lower the solubility of soap in water so that the soap is precipitated out and to harden the soap. 3) Write a word equation for the saponification process involved in this experiment. Palm oil + sodium hydroxide solution + sodium chloride soap + water

4) Predict your observation if tap water is replaced by distilled water in procedure 11. Explain your answer. The result obtained will be difference when soap is added with the distilled water. This is because the type of water used is very important. Tap water should not be used. Tap water contains minerals and impurities such as calcium, magnesium
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as well as organic material. Distilled water or pure(uncontaminated)rainwater is essential to the soap maker. 5) Can soap be produced by hydrolyzing fats or oils under acidic conditions? Explain your answer. To make soap, you would need to split the oils and fats by hydrolysis, and this is usually done by heating the oil or fat with concentrated sodium hydroxide solution to give glycerol and the sodium salts of the acids 6) Name two different techniques used in making soap. Cold process soap and melt and pour soap.

7) What are the disadvantages of commercial soap? Most commercial soaps have had their glycerin removed for use in other industries, which deprives the skin of the natural, moisturizing glycerin and generally leaves the skin feeling dry. Some antibacterial soap has antiseptic chemicals that can kill "healthy" bacteria that live symbiotically on the skin's surface and contribute to skin health. There is a theoretical risk of antibacterial additives, such as Triclosan, in soaps contributing to antibiotic resistant bacteria; however, controlled studies have not borne out that conclusion. When Triclosan is discharged into the environment and exposed to sunlight, it breaks down to yield dioxins. Soap-based products often contain the additive detergent sodium laureth sulfate, which research has found to be harsh on skin. This product is also present in many non-soap cleaners for personal hygiene (shampoos, bathfoams, toothpaste, etc.). Soap can have a mild base reaction with fabrics, resulting in damage over the long term. This could be due to excess sodium hydroxide ( NaOH, an alkali/ base) left from manufacture. This, however, is highly unlikely
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since most soap manufacturers don't formulate their soaps to have excess lye but rather excess oil or fat. 8) What are the materials used in the industry to manufacture detergent? LABSA (Linear Chain alkylbenzene sulphuric acid), STPP, Sodium Cortunate, Softener, CMC, AOS, AEO-9.

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http://allcrafts.tripod.com/ Accessed on 21 June 2011. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61719.asp Accessed on 23 June 2011. http://www.ehow.com/how_7449712_make-soap-saponification.html Accessed on 26 June 2011. www.wikipedia.com/sodiumchloride Accessed on 26 June 2011.