saponification
Fat becomes soap
Saponification is the chemical process that produces soap—specifically, the reaction between a fat or oil and an alkali (like lye) that breaks down the fat into glycerol and fatty acid salts.
The fatty acid salts are soap.
The term extends to any similar hydrolysis of an ester into an alcohol and acid salt.
Cold-process soapmaking relies on saponification to transform oils into solid bars.
Alkoxy-substituted acid derivative
- fatty acidsOrganic molecules in fats
- glycerolTrihydric alcohol, viscous, sweet
- triglyceridesThree-chained fat molecules
- alkaliAcid-neutralizing ionic compound
base · sodium hydroxide · potassium hydroxide · carboxylate · salts · lipids · oils · organic chemistry
Fatty alkali cleanser
- lyeHydroxide cleaning solution
- cold processSoapmaking without added heat
- curingRestoring health or preserving
- traceMinute remnant or pursue
mold · unmolding · lather · bar · handmade · artisan · glycerin · essential oils
Water-induced bond cleavage
- ester bondAcid-alcohol chemical linkage
- catalystAgent enabling change
- heatingRaising temperature artificially
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
kinetics · equilibrium · exothermic · reactant · product · activation energy · enthalpy · rate
Plant-based motor fuel
- stirringArousing strong emotion
- scalingClimbing or resizing
- batch processingRunning queued jobs automatically
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
rendering · tallow · palm oil · coconut oil
ester
Alkoxy-substituted acid derivative
- fatty acidsOrganic molecules in fats
- glycerolTrihydric alcohol, viscous, sweet
- triglyceridesThree-chained fat molecules
alkali · base · sodium hydroxide · potassium hydroxide · carboxylate · salts · lipids · oils · organic chemistry · molecular formula
soap
Fatty alkali cleanser
- lyeHydroxide cleaning solution
- cold processSoapmaking without added heat
- curingRestoring health or preserving
trace · mold · unmolding · lather · bar · handmade · artisan · glycerin · essential oils · fragrance
hydrolysis
Water-induced bond cleavage
- ester bondAcid-alcohol chemical linkage
- catalystAgent enabling change
- heatingRaising temperature artificially
mechanism · kinetics · equilibrium · exothermic · reactant · product · activation energy · enthalpy · rate · stoichiometry
biodiesel
Plant-based motor fuel
- stirringArousing strong emotion
- scalingClimbing or resizing
- batch processingRunning queued jobs automatically
feedstock · rendering · tallow · palm oil · coconut oil
saponificationdissolution
Breaking up completely
emulsification · solubilization · melting · extraction · dispersion
sapodilla, soapstone, sapote, saponin, soaper, soapwort, saponify, soapbark, saponified