The Production of Soap

Even though soap has been around for ages the same ingredients have been added for years. The main ingredient for soap is animal fat. The fat is either decomposed of heated at a high temperature in water in order to form glycerol and free fatty acid. Also fat can be broken down much quicker with a basic substance and adding heat to it. The base used to do this is a mixture of sodium and potassium carbonate. Salt is then added and the soap and glycerol is separated from each other. The glycerol is then removed from the mixture. Hard soaps mainly consist of sodium, but a soft soap such as shaving later and liquid soap mainly contains potassium. Most of the time a sort of perfume is added to the mixture to add a scent. Hard water consisting of calcium or magnesium deactivates the cleaning process of soap and builds soap scum. Many people prefer soft water to wash their hair so that the soapy residue is not left over.

Unknown terms:
-glycerol: a byproduct in the production of soap.
-hard water: water containing calcium or magnesium ions

Soap has always interested me on how it is made. I never did know the chemical properties or any of its features. I just accepted the fact that it cleaned. The fact that animal fat if the real reason for the production of soap surprises me. I never would have expected animal fat to make a substance that can clean objects. I have basically been cleaning my body with a dead animal. The process to make soap is actually not hard either. Most of the time soap could be made in someone’s home. I also didn’t know that soap can have different qualities because of the salt added to it. Next time I jump in the shower I will make sure to think of what I am rubbing on myself when I use a bar of soap.