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. |
Note:
Generally, Soap does not show any other type of reaction.