Name: Noellee Forbes
Lab #: 5
Date: 16/11/2023
Title: Organic Chemistry - Saponification
Aim: To make soap using the saponification reaction.
Apparatus and Materials: Stirring rod, Bunsen burner, wire gauze, tripod stand, filter funnel,
filter paper, spatula, knife, beaker (250 ml), measuring cylinders, oils (vegetable oil, castor oil,
olive oil, coconut oil or palm oil), 20% sodium hydroxide solution, common salt (NaCl), blue
and red litmus papers, fragrance or essential oils, food colourings.
Procedure:
1. 25 ml of oil was measured in a measuring cylinder and poured into a 250 ml glass
beaker.
2. 20g of NaOH was weighed using a small dry beaker.
3. 100 ml of distilled water was measured using a measuring cylinder and poured into a
conical flask.
4. The NaOH was added to the water in the conical flask and swirled until completely
dissolved.
5. 30ml of the NaoH solution was measured and poured into the beaker with the oil.
6. The mixture was vigorously stirred using a glass rod.
7. The beaker was touched from outside and observed that the beaker was warm.
8. The beaker was placed on a wire gauze placed over a tripod stand.
9. 2-3 ml of any fragrance and 2-3 drops of food colouring you wish were added to the
mixture while heating.
10. The beaker was heated (using a Bunsen burner till the mixture becomes a whitish paste),
while stirring for about 30-40 minutes.
11. The beaker was removed from the flame and allowed to cool.
12. A red litmus paper was dipped in the suspension formed, the red litmus paper changed its
colour to blue.
13. A blue litmus paper was dipped in the suspension, and the colour of blue litmus paper
remained the same.
14. To the above suspension, 15g of common salt was added and stirred well with a glass
rod.
15. After adding common salt, soap in the suspension was precipitated out as solid.
16. A filter funnel was taken and placed a filter paper in it and fixed it in a stand.
17. A beaker was placed below the funnel. The contents of the beaker were poured into the
funnel over a glass rod and the contents of the [Link] filtered
18. After filtration, soap was left behind in the filter paper.
19. The soap was transferred into another filter paper using a spatula and dried by pressing
with another filter paper. Then,it was cut into the desired shape with a knife.
Observations:
There was a change in consistency from a liquid or oil like substance to a thicker more viscous
material. Initially, there was a formation of an emulsion when the oil reacted with the alkali. Due
to the two liquids being immiscible it appeared cloudy or milky. There was a change in colour
due to the food colouring added. While the mixture was being stirred and heated the mixture was
fizzing.
Discussion:
Saponification is a chemical reaction that involves the conversion of a fat or oil into soap and
alcohol by the action of an alkali (such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). This
process is commonly used in the production of soap. The reaction can be represented by the
following general equation:
Fat/Oil+Alkali→Soap+Alcohol
Sodium hydroxide was used instead of an acid because if an acid were used it would protonate
the fatty acids, leading to the formation of carboxylic acid molecules. This reaction does not
produce the characteristic soap molecules and does not have the same emulsifying properties. In
short, using an acid would not result in the formation of soap, which is the primary goal of
saponification.
The mixture was stirred and heated for such a long time because it accelerates the reaction and
increases the solubility of both the oils and alkali in water ensuring that the reactants are well
mixed and in contact with each other. Stirring also ensures a uniform distribution of heat
throughout the mixture and helps maintain a consistent and homogeneous mixture. Common salt
is used in the reaction to help with precipitation and separation of soap from glycerol. The soap
forms a precipitate while glycerol and other water-soluble reactants remain in the aqueous phase.
The products of the resulting suspension are soap and glycerol. An overall chemical equation for
the reaction is ;
Triglyceride( oil) + Sodium hydroxide → Glycerol + 3 soap (sodium salts of fatty acids)
Conclusion:
In conclusion, soap was successfully made from the saponification reaction.
Reflection:
In this lab I learnt how to make soap using the saponification method. I can apply this knowledge
to making my own soap at home and to my further studies of chemistry in university.