FOAMING CAPACITY OF SOAPS

A CHEMISTRY PROJECT REPORT

SUBMITTED BY

KHEERTHNA - CLASS 12 – TOPAZ

SHREE NIKETAN PATASALA

MANNIVAKAM , CHENNAI

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TABLE OF CONTENT:

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STATEMENT OF PROBLEM :

 A SOAP WITH LESS FOAM DOES NOT REMOVE OIL AND GREASE PARTICLE
 SOAP WITH LESS FOAM HAS DECREASED ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES
 IMPROPER FOAMING OF SOAP ALSO AFFECTS ONE’S PERSONAL HYGIENE

HENCE FOAMING OF SOAP IS IMPORTANT

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ABSTRACT:

Aim is to investigate foaming capacity of different washing soap. Soaps and detergents are
cleaning ingredients that are able to remove oil particles from surfaces because of their
unique chemical properties. Soaps are created by the chemical reaction of a jetty acid with
on alkali metal hydroxide. In a chemical sense soap is a salt made up of a carboxylic acid
and an alkali like sodium of potassium. The cleaning action of soap and detergents is a result
of thrill, ability to surround oil particles on a surface and disperse it in water.

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INTRODUCTION:

Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acids like stearic, palmitic and oleic acids
can be either saturated or unsaturated. They contain a long hydrocarbon chain of about 10-20
carbon with one carboxylic acid group as the functional group.

A soap molecule is a tadpole shaped structure, whose ends have different polarities. At one
end is the long hydrocarbon chain that is non-polar and hydrophobic, i.e., insoluble in water
but oil soluble. At the other end is the short polar carboxylate ion which is hydrophilic i.e.,
water soluble but insoluble in oil and grease.

Long Hydrocarbon Chain Hydrophobic End Hydrophilic end:

When soap is shaken with water it becomes a soap solution that is colloidal in nature.
Agitating it tends to concentrate the solution on the surface and causes foaming. This helps
the soap molecules make a unimolecular film on the surface of water and to penetrate the
fabric. The long non-polar end of a soap molecule that are hydrophobic, gravitate towards
and surround the dirt (fat or oil with dust absorbed in it). The short polar end containing the
carboxylate ion, face the water away from the dirt. A number of soap molecules surround or
encircle dirt and grease in a clustered structure called ‘micelles’, which encircles such
particles and emulsify them.

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Page 6 of 18
AIM:

To study the foaming capacity of soap

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OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this project is to compare the foaming capacities and foam stability of
different samples of soaps and hence to determine the best brand among them.

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MATERIALS REQUIRED:

To do this experiment we will need the following materials and equipment:

 200 ml beaker
 Watch glass
 Weighing machine
 250 ml measuring cylinder
 Stop-watch
 Different samples of soaps
 Distilled water
 Glass rod

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THEORY:

There is no quantitative method for the determination of foaming capacity of soap. However,
the foaming capacity of different soaps can be compared qualitatively by the following way.
Solutions of different soaps are prepared by dissolving their equal weights in equal volumes
of distilled water. These solutions are shaken vigorously to produce foam and then they are
allowed to stand. The volume of the foam produced initially is noted and compared as well
as volume of foam remaining after a specific amount of time for each solution is also noted.
The greater the quantity of foam produced in a given sample of soap, greater is its foaming
capacity and longer the time taken for disappearance of foam, greater is its foam stability.

Foaming capacity = (Foam volume/initial sample volume) *100%

Foam stability = (Foam volume after 30min/initial foam volume) *100%

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PROCEDURE:

1. Weigh 1g of each of the different samples of soaps provided to you in a watch glass.

2. Dissolve each of these weighed samples in distilled water separately, in different beakers
to form a total of 200ml solution. Label the solutions as 1,2,3,4 etc.

3. Stir the sample thoroughly with a glass rod to produce foam.

4. Pour the solution into a 250 ml measuring cylinder.

5. Measure the amount of foam present in the measuring cylinder and note down the
readings.

6. After 30 minutes, note down the final readings in a tabular form.

7. Repeat the above steps for all the samples provided to you

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OBSERVATION:

Weight of each soap sample taken = 1g

Volume of the solution after mixing the soap sample to the water = 200mL, for each sample
taken

OBSERVATION TABLE:

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CALCULATIONS:

Foaming capacity of –

1. Vim = 16

2. Peril = 20

3. Bizz = 35

4. Wonder spa = 11.25

5. Dettol = 31.25

6. Lifebuoy = 15

7. Himalaya = 25

8. Sun silk = 21.25

9. Dheedhi = 16.25

Foam stability of –

1. Vim = 75

2. Pril = 80

3. Bizz = 57.14

4. Wonder spa = 33.33

5. Dettol = 24

6. Lifebuoy = 41.67

7. Himalaya = 85

8. Sun silk = 82.35

9. Dheedhi = 84.61

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RESULT:

Among liquid dishwashers, Pril has maximum foaming capacity and Pril has maximum
foam stability. Best liquid dishwasher brand among these is Pril.

Among hand wash soaps, Dettol has maximum foaming capacity and Lifebuoy has
maximum foam stability. Best hand wash soap brand among these is Dettol.

Among shampoos, Himalaya has maximum foaming capacity and Himalaya has maximum
foam stability. Best shampoo brand among these is Himalaya.

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LIMITATIONS:

 Surface tension, viscosity, and ionic strength are the factors that influence
foaming behavior. Film elasticity and the production of gelatinous surface layers
are linked to the stability of persistent foams.
 The washing ability of soap depends on foaming capacity, as well as the water
used in cleaning. The salts of Ca and Mg disrupt the formation of micelle
formation. The presence of such salts makes the water hard and the water is
called hard water. These salts thus make the soap inefficient in its cleaning action.
 The foaming capacity of a soap sample depends upon the nature of soap and its
concentration. This can be compared for various samples of soaps by taking the
same concentration of solution and shaking them.

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CONCLUSION:

The soap that makes more volume of foam has the highest foaming capacity and that which
takes more time to disappear, has maximum foam stability. The soap with maximum foaming
capacity and maximum foam stability is the best quality soap or detergent among the
samples tested. If foaming capacity is high and foam stability is low or foam stability is high
and foaming capacity is low, we draw the conclusion that soap with higher foaming capacity
is the better soap.

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APPLICATIONS:

The foaming capacity of soap is an important characteristic that determines its effectiveness
in certain applications. Some of the applications of the foaming capacity of soap are:

 Cleaning: Soap is commonly used as a cleaning agent due to its ability to foam and
form lather. The foaming capacity of soap helps to create a layer of bubbles on the
surface being cleaned, which can help to lift and remove dirt and grime.
 Personal care products: Soap is a common ingredient in personal care products such as
shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream. The foaming capacity of soap helps to
create a rich lather that can spread easily over the skin or hair, making it easier to clean
and moisturize.
 Agriculture: Soap can be used as a foaming agent in agriculture to help spread
pesticides and herbicides evenly over crops. The foam helps to adhere the chemicals to
the surface of the plants, increasing their effectiveness and reducing waste.
 Firefighting: Soap can be used as a foaming agent in firefighting to create a thick layer
of foam that can help to extinguish fires. The foam helps to smother the fire by
blocking the supply of oxygen, and can also help to cool the area being affected.
 Overall, the foaming capacity of soap is an important characteristic that makes it
useful in a wide range of applications.

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BIBILIOGRAPHY:

INTERNET

1. www.google.co.in

2. https://www.ijirt.org/master/publishedpaper/IJIRT149364_PAPER.pdf

3. www.youtube.com

BOOKS

1. Comprehensive practical chemistry

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