NAVIGATION
Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. Soaps can change the surface tension of water. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. When used for cleaning, soap solubilizes particles and grime, which can then be separated from the article being cleaned. In industrial settings, soaps are used as thickeners, components of some lubricants, and precursors to catalysts.
Figure 1. Soaps
Soap is produced by the saponification (hydrolysis) of a fat or oil. In this process the fat or oil is reacted with a strong base such as sodium or potassium hydroxide to produce fatty acid salts.
Figure 2. synthesis of Sodium stearate
Alfa Chemistry offers a variety of soaps of fatty acids for customers to choose from.
