3. The “saponification number” is used as an indicator of fatty acid chain length in triglycerides.

The value is simply a measurement of the ml of KOH required to complete the hydrolysis of one
gram of fat or oil. Saponification value (or "saponification number", also referred to as "sap" in
short) represents the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required
to saponify 1g of fat under the conditions specified. It is a measure of the average molecular
weight (or chain length) of all the fatty acids present. As most of the mass of a fat/triester is in
the 3 fatty acids, it allows for comparison of the average fatty acid chain length. The long chain
fatty acids found in fats have low saponification value because they have a relatively fewer
number of carboxylic functional groups per unit mass of the fat as compared to short chain fatty
acids. If more moles of base are required to saponify N grams of fat then there are more moles of
the fat the chain lengths are relatively small, given the following relation:

Number of moles = mass of oil/relative atomic mass

The calculated molar mass is not applicable to fats and oils containing high amounts of
unsaponifiable material, free fatty acids (>0.1%), or mono- and diacylglycerols (>0.1%).
Handmade soap makers who aim for bar soap use NaOH sap values which are derived from the
saponification value calculated by laboratories (KOH sap value). To convert KOH values to
NaOH values, divide the KOH values by the ratio of the molecular weights of KOH and NaOH
(1.403).

Reference:

http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/davidb/new_page_18.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saponification_value

Significance:

 Saponification values are highly significant in the making of soap. It is important that the
sap value is just right too high and the soap might contain too much alkali even though
there is sufficient soapiness that it would react with skin whilst a sap value too small -the
fatty acid salts will not be sufficient enough to remove or saponify the fat or oil and less
soapiness.

Reference:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_significance_of_saponification_value#ixzz1CZR2oV6C

4. The basic difference between fats and oils, as most people know, is that fats are solid at room
temperature while oils are liquid. However, room temperature does vary from place to place and
according to the season. Just because your butter is a mess at 38*c, does not mean it’s an oil. So,
don’t fool yourself!

Both fats and oils form a part of a well defined dietary plan. When you want to turn a fat into oil,
you just need to turn the temperature up. When it reaches a certain temperature, the fat turns into
oil. However, once you go on heating the oil, it starts smoking. This is the point where it releases
toxins. These toxins stay on even after the oil has cooled down. Reality check? If you thought
that deep fried stuff was better than your jar of butter, think again. Those French fries, fried in
repeatedly reheated oil, is causing you more harm than a bit of butter on your toast.

Hydrogenated oils are something we come across on a daily basis- they are in your favorite pack
of chips, your ready to make soup packs and even in that packet of biscuits. Hydrogenation is the
process of refining the oil in your foodstuff till it becomes almost impossible to spoil. This
process destroys all the nutritional value of the oil and reduces it into a mass of stuff your body
can well do without.

Fats are basically divided according to whether they are saturated or unsaturated. Saturated fats
tend to be solid at room temperature and contribute to higher cholesterol levels in the blood. You
will do well to eliminate these from your diet. Unsaturated fats are typically those that do not
raise your cholesterol all that much. Fats usually come from animal sources.

Oil, on the other hand is usually a purified form of the fat. These usually come from plant
sources. There are a number of cooking oils used across the world. The common ones are olive
oil, palm oil, corn oil and sunflower oil. If you are feeling confused about the total amount of fats
and oils you can incorporate into your diet safely follow the recommendation of the FDA. It says
that less than 30% of the total calories in your diet should come from fats and oils. If you are
trying to lose weight, you should bring that down to round 10% only.

Fats and oil are important parts of your diet. Take them in moderation and you will have a
healthier and happier life.

Reference:

Difference between Fats and Oils | Difference Between | Difference between Fats vs. Oils
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-fats-and-
oils/#ixzz1CZSTXivp

5. Glycerol or glycerin is one of the most widely used ingredients in drugs and pharmaceuticals.
Apart from drugs, there are other uses of glycerin as well. Read on to find out the most common
uses of glycerin 

Drugs - Glycerin is widely used to manufacture the following drugs.

 Capsules
 Suppositories
 Ear infection remedies
 Anesthetics
 Cough remedies
 Lozenges
  Gargles

Foods and Beverages - Glycerin is used to moisten, sweeten or preserve the following food and
drinks:

 Soft drinks
 Candies
 Cakes
 Meat and cheese
 Dry food 

Cosmetics and Toiletries - Because of the non-toxic nature of glycerin, it is used in cosmetics
and toiletries. It is used in the following products:

 Toothpaste
 Skin creams and lotions
 Pre-shaving lotions
 Deodorants
 Make up
 Lipstick
 Mascara

Tobacco - Glycerin is also used in tobacco to prevent the breaking and crumbling during the
processing of cigarettes, etc. It also adds some kind of flavor to the chewing tobacco. It is widely
used to manufacture cigarette filter tips as well.
 
Paper and Printing - It is used to soften and reduce the shrinkage during paper manufacturing. It
is used in the following:

 Grease proof paper

 Food wrappers
 Printing ink

Textiles - Glycerin is used in textiles to soften the yarn and to lubricate fibers of different kinds.
In the textile industry, glycerin is generally used for the following purposes:

 As a lubricant for food processing

 To manufacture resin coating
 To add flexibility to rubber and plastic
 As a building block in manufacturing flexible foams
 To manufacture dynamite
 To create component that is used in radios and neon lights 

Reference:
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/common-uses-for-glycerin-2704.html