CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CAHS CHEM 12

EXPERIMENT 13:
Saponification Reaction

I. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the experiment, you shall be able to:

1. make lye soap via the saponification reaction;

2. and explain the reaction of triglycerides with Sodium Hydroxide.

II. DISCUSSION
A soap is a salt of a fatty acid. Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with a long
unbranched hydrocarbon (aliphatic) chains.

The ionic (highly polar, charged) nature of salts typically makes them water
soluble. The non-polar hydrocarbon (aliphatic) tail of soap molecules allows them to be
miscible with non-polar (greasy) substances and ‘help’ these substances dissolve in
water. Successful bathing is all about improving the water solubility of ‘dirt’.

Soap can be prepared from certain esters by a process known as saponification.

Historically, soaps were made by boiling the fat of an animal in a solution containing
potash (various potassium containing minerals). This was done long before anyone
had a good understanding of the chemical transformations taking place. We now know
that this process is the reaction of triglycerides (which esters) with a strong base such
as Sodium Hydroxide.

Fat + Lye → Soap + Glycerol

Triglycerides are the main constituents of vegetable oil and animal fats. A
triglyceride is a tri-ester with three long fatty-acid-like hydrocarbon chains. When a
triglyceride reacts with three equivalents of a strong base such as NaOH, the three
ester bonds are hydrolysed to yield three fatty acid salts (soap molecules) and one
molecule of glycerol as shown below. This ‘saponification’ can also be referred to as
base hydrolysis.

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CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CAHS CHEM 12

Figure 1: Saponification of a triglyceride

(source:http://www.webassign.net/sample/ncsumeorgchem2/lab_10/manual.html)

Industrially, soap is made by reaction of sodium hydroxide with vegetable fat or

a form of beef or mutton fat called ‘tallow’. It is important to use enough NaOH to
ensure complete saponification of triglycerides. If insufficient base, time, heat is
provided the result is incomplete saponification and a soap product that can be very
brittle.

In this experiment you will make soap out from olive oil. The chemical structure
of the major constituent of olive oil is as follows (C52H96O6).

Figure 2: Major component olive oil a triglyceride

(source: https://www.oliveoilsource.com/page/chemical-characteristics)

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III. MATERIALS
Part A.

Orange peels Scissor/ Blender Graduated cylinder

100 ml beaker (3pcs) 250 ml beaker

Dehydrator/ Oven

Part B.
500 ml beaker 500 ml molder
Stirring rod

IV. REAGENTS
Part A and B.

Olive oil Coconut oil Castor oil

Sodium Hydroxide Citrus scent (optional)

V. PROCEDURE

Part A. Preparation of materials

1. Dry the orange peels using a dehydrator or an oven on low heat.

2. After drying them, cut them into smaller pieces using a scissor or grind it into powder
using a blender or a coffee grinder.

3. Prepare 232 ml olive oil, 27 ml coconut oil, and 14 ml castor oil at room temperature
each in a separate beaker. Measure them using a graduated cylinder.

4. Prepare your lye solution in a 100 ml beaker by adding 52 ml water and 38 grams of
Sodium Hydroxide. That will constitute 42% lye concentration.

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Part B. Making of Soap

1. Mix the 232 ml olive oil, 27 ml coconut oil, and 14 ml castor oil in a 500 ml beaker
using a stirring rod.

2. After mixing the oils, you can now add the lye solution in the mixture.

3. Add the orange peels (in powdered form). You can also add citrus scent.

4. Continue stirring until the solution reach a light to medium trace (color).

5. Pour the solution in a 400-500 ml molder.

6. Leave it undisturbed for 12-24 hours to harden before cutting.

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CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CAHS CHEM 12

Name: Date: _

Section: Group No.:

EXPERIMENT 13: Saponification Reaction

PRE-LABORATORY TASK 1

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM Laboratory

Techniques

 Measuring
accurately
using a
measuring
cylinder

 Making 42%
concentration
lye solution

 Handling
reagents
properly

 Using of
appropriate
laboratory
materials

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CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CAHS CHEM 12

PRE-LABORATORY TASK 2

REAGENT PRECAUTIONS Reagent Disposal

Sodium Hydroxide Contain and soak up
 Incompatible with many common chemicals. spill with absorbent that
 Reacts violently with water. does not react with
 Extremely corrosive. spilled product. Shovel
 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. or sweep dry sodium
hydroxide for disposal.
Flush spill area. Dike
spilled product to
prevent runoff.
Olive oil Toss the container of
 Little is known about any adverse effects from olive oil used oil in the trash. Do
as it is safe as food not pour the oil down
your sink because it will
eventually clog the
pipes.

Coconut oil Toss the container of

 Coconut oil allergies are very rare but can still happen. used oil in the trash. Do
 Careful to not get it in your eyes. If you happen to get not pour the oil down
the oil in your eyes and feel any irritation, flush your your sink because it will
eyes with water right away. eventually clog the
pipes.

Castor oil Toss the container of

 Can cause diarrhea: while it can be an effective way to used oil in the trash. Do
alleviate constipations, you may get diarrhea if not pour the oil down
consumed too much. your sink because it will
 Can cause allergic reactions eventually clog the
pipes.

Citrus scent Throw the empty bottle

 Always test for skin sensitivity prior to use: excessive in the trash properly
use can lead to skin sensitization
 Keep out of eyes and ears
 Never use in a way not recommended by its maker

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CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CAHS CHEM 12

Name: Date: _

Section: Group No.:

EXPERIMENT 13: Saponification Reaction

DOCUMENTATION SHEET

PREPARATION
OF MATERIALS
THE OLIVE OIL WAS BOUGHT
FROM THE GROCERY
TOGETHER WITH THE
ORANGES THAT WERE USED
TO OBTAIN THE ORANGE
PEELS. THE COCONUT AND
CASTOR OIL CAN BE
BROUGHT FROM WATSONS.

WE DECIDED TO USE OLIVE

OIL AS ONE OF OUR
ESSENTIAL OILS BECAUSE
OF ITS HEALTH BENEFITS. IT
GIVES A MOISTURIZING
EFFECT THAT IS PERFECT
FOR PEOPLE WITH DRY
SKIN. IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE
ANTI-INFLAMATORY
EFFECTS TO HELP HEAL
SKIN ABRASIONS.

WE ALSO ADDED COCONUT

OIL AS IT IS HIGHLY
CLEANSING AND
CONDITIONING TO THE SKIN
CHOOSING FRAGRANCE AND PRODUCES A
FOR SOAP WONDERFUL CREAMY
LATHER.
PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE EXPERIMENT, WE THE CASTOR OIL IS FOR
CHOSE OUR FRAGRANT WICH IS THE CITRUS SPEEDING UP THE TRACE.
SCENT. IT CAN HELP MAKE OUR SOAP SMELL TRACE IS WHEN YOUR SOAP
LIKE FRESH ORANGES. HAS REACHED
“EMULSIFICATION”—WHEN
NOTE: OUR SOAP MAKING PROCESS DOES THE OILS AND WATER HAVE
NOT REQUIRE HEATING MIXED AND ARE NOT GOING
TO SEPARATE.

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MAKING OF
SOAP
THE ORANGE PEELS WERE
DRIED USING AN OVEN IN
LOW HEAT SINCE WE DON’T
HAVE A DEHYDRATOR. WE
MADE SURE THAT IT IS
ALREADY DRIED BEFORE
BRINGING IT TO THE LAB.
THEY WERE NOT YET IN
POWDERED FORM SO WE
CUT IT IN SMALL PIECES
USING A SCISSOR.

NOTE: THE OILS USED ARE ALL

IN ROOM TEMPERATURE

THE OILS WERE MEASURED

USING A GRADUATED
CYLINDER AND WERE
PLACED IN A 500 ML
BEAKER. THERE, WE MIXED
IT USING A STIRRING ROD.

WE STIRRED FOR ABOUT 45

MINUTES; WE CHOSE TO
TAKE TURNS IN STIRRING
TO MAKE THE WORKLOAD
LIGHTHER.

THE MIXURE SLOWLY

BECAME SMOOTHER AND
MORE OPAQUE AS IT
SHOULD THICKEN TO A
PUDDING-LIKE
CONSISTENCY.

AFTER THAT WE ADDED 5

DROPS OF CITRUS SCENT
AND POURED IT TO OUR
CHOSEN RECTANGULAR
CONTAINER.

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FORMATION OF
SOAP
THE SOAP MIXTURE WAS
LEFT UNDISTURBED FOR
ABOUT 12-24 HOURS TO
HARDEN AND DRY.

ON THE DAY OF OUR NEXT

MEETING IN OUR
LABORATORY, WE CHECKED
IF OUR EXPERIMENT WAS
SUCCESSFUL. THE SOAP
WAS ALREADY HARD AND
DRY SO WE CONCLUDED
THAT IT WENT WELL AND WE
ARE SO RELIEVED AND
HAPPPY.

WE EXAMINED IT AFTER
REMOVING IT FROM THE
CONTAINER.

THE SHAPE IS FIRM. IT DOES

NOT EASILY BREAK AS WE LIFT
IT WHOLLY WITH OUR HANDS.

IT HAS THE ORANGE SMELL

THAT WE WANT BUT WE CAN
STILL SMELL THE CASTOR OIL
FROM IT.

WE TRIED TO WASH OUR

HANDS USING OUR SOAP AND
IT DOES LATHER AND CLEAN
YOUR HANDS LIKE A REGULAR
SOAP. IT ALSO LEAVE SOME
MOISTURE IN YOUR SKIN.

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Post-laboratory questions:

1. Explain why most soaps contain glycerol.

Most soaps contain glycerol because it draws water to skin, effectively balancing it`s
moisture levels. Its presence in skin has been shown to prevent signs of aging by
helping skin cells mature properly.

2. Describe the properties that glycerol adds to soap.

Glycerin is a thick, clear fluid that is used in a wide variety of bath ad beauty products.
It is humectant which means it has the ability to attract moisture in the skin. It draws
moisture up through the skin layers and slows or prevents excessive drying and
evaporation.

3. Define saponification, triglyceride, surfactant and micelle.

Saponification- is a process by which triglycerides are reacted with sodium or

potassium hydroxide (lye) to produce glycerol and a fatty acid salt, called "soap." The
triglycerides are most often animal fats or vegetable oils. When sodium hydroxide is
used, a hard soap is produced.

Triglyceride- an ester formed from glycerol and three fatty acid groups. Triglycerides
are the main constituents of natural fats and oils. Soap is produced by the
saponification (hydrolysis) of a triglyceride (fat or oil).

Surfactant- a substance which tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which
it is dissolved. Surfactants function by breaking down the interface between water and
oils and/or dirt

Micelle- an aggregate of molecules in a colloidal solution. When greasy dirt or oil is

mixed with soapy water, the soap molecules arrange themselves into tiny clusters
called micelles.

4. Is saponification reaction exothermic or endothermic?

The saponification process itself is an endothermic reaction, meaning that it absorbs

heat from the surroundings. This “heat stage” of soap making is commonly called as
gel phase.

5. What happens to glycerol after saponification?

When triglycerides in fat/oil react with aqueous NaOH or KOH, they are converted into
soap and glycerol. This is called alkaline hydrolysis of esters. Since this reaction leads
to the formation of soap, it is called the Saponification process.Thus, the soap
molecule has a polar head and a non-polar hydrocarbon tail.

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6. Draw the saponification of triglyceride

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