The
Chemical formula of soap is C17H35COO– Na+.
Characteristics of soap
| Properties |
Detail |
| Physical state |
Solid at room temperature |
| Solubility |
Soluble in water |
| pH |
Alkaline (typically between 9 and 10) |
| Cleansing |
Removes
· dirt,
· oil,
and other contaminants from skin and surfaces |
| Emulsifying |
Helps to mix oil and water |
| Foaming |
Forms lather when mixed with water |
| Moisturizing |
Can help to hydrate skin |
| Fragrance |
Often scented with essential oils or synthetic fragrances |
| Color |
May be colored using
· natural
· or synthetic colorants |
| Ingredients |
Typically made from fatty acids and alkalis, with additional ingredients added for fragrance, color, and other purposes. |
Reaction of soap with Alkali metal
| Alkali metal |
Reaction |
| Sodium (Na) |
In the presence of sodium, soap reacts to produce sodium soap (salt) and hydrogen gas (H2).This is known as the saponification reaction. |
| Potassium (K) |
Potassium and soap can combine to produce potassium soap (salt) and hydrogen gas (H2). This reaction is comparable to the sodium-based saponification reaction. |
| Lithium (Li) |
Lithium and soap may react to produce lithium soap (salt) and hydrogen gas (H2). This response doesn’t happen as frequently as those with sodium and potassium, though. |
Generally, Soap does not show any other type of reaction.
