CHEMISTRY
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
Foaming Capacity of
Soaps
Project by:Arjun sarati
Class:11 B
TOPICS
1
Introduction 3
Commercial preparation 4
Of soaps
Fat in soap 4
Preparation of soap 5
Introduction to the 7
Experiment
Theory 8
Procedure 8
Observation 10
Result 10
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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 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 contain Hydrophobic and 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.
Cleansing action of soaps decreases in hard water. Hard water
contains Calcium and magnesium ions which react with
sodium carbonate to produce insoluble carbonates of higher
fatty acids. This hardness can be removed by addition of
Sodium Carbonate.
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COMMERCIAL PREPARATION OF
SOAPS
The most popular soap making process today is the cold
process method, where fats such as olive oil react with strong
alkaline solution, while some soapers use the historical hot
process. Handmade soap differs from industrial soap in that,
usually, an excess of fat is sometimes used to consume the
alkali (super fatting), and in that the glycerine is not removed,
leaving a naturally moisturizing soap and not pure detergent.
Often, emollients such as jojoba oil or Shea butter are added
‘at trace’ (the point at which the saponification process is
sufficiently advanced that the soap has begun to thicken),
after most of the oils have saponified, so that they remain
unreacted in the finished soap.
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FAT IN SOAP
Soap is derived from either vegetable or animal fats. Sodium
Tallowate, a common ingredient in much soap, is derived
from rendered beef fat. Soap can also be made of vegetable
oils, such as palm oil, and the product is typically softer. An
array of specifiable oils and fats are used in the process such
as olive, coconut, palm, cocoa butter to provide different
qualities. For example, olive oil provides mildness in soap;
coconut oil provides lots of lather; while coconut and palm
oils provide hardness. Sometimes castor oil can also be used
as an ebullient. Smaller amounts of unsaponifiable oils and
fats that do not yield soap are sometimes added for further
benefits.
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PREPARATION OF SOAPS
In cold-process and hot-process soap making, heat may be
required for saponification. Cold-process soap making takes
place at a sufficient temperature to ensure the liquification of
the fat being used. Unlike cold-processed soap, hot-
processed soap can be used right away because the alkali and
fat saponify more quickly at the higher temperatures used in
hot-process soap making. Hot-process soap making was used
when the purity of alkali was unreliable. Cold-process soap
making requires exact measurements of alkali and fat
amounts and computing their ratio, using saponification
charts to ensure that the finished product is mild and skin-
friendly.
Hot process:
In the hot-process method, alkali and fat are boiled together
at 80–100 °C until saponification occurs, which the soap
maker can determine by taste or by eye. After saponification
has occurred, the soap is sometimes precipitated from the
solution by adding salt, and the excess liquid drained off. The
hot, soft soap is then spooned into a mould.
Cold process:
A cold-process soap maker first looks up the saponification
value of the fats being used on a saponification chart, which
is then used to calculate the appropriate amount of alkali.
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Excess unreacted alkali in the soap will result in a very high
pH and can burn or irritate skin. Not enough alkali and the
soap are greasy. The alkali is dissolved in water. Then oils are
heated, or melted if they are solid at room temperature.
Once both substances have cooled to approximately 100-
110°F (37-43°C), and are no more than 10°F (~5.5°C) apart,
they may be combined. This alkali-fat mixture is stirred until
“trace”. There are varying levels of trace. After much stirring,
the mixture turns to the consistency of a thin pudding.
“Trace” corresponds roughly to viscosity. Essential and
fragrance oils are added at light trace. Introduction to the
experiment Soap samples of various brands are taken and
their foaming capacity is noticed. Various soap samples are
taken separately and their foaming capacity is observed. The
soap with the maximum foaming capacity is thus, said to be
having the best cleaning capacity.
Introduction to the Experiment
Soap samples of various brands are taken and their foaming
capacity is noticed. Various soap samples are taken
separately and their foaming capacity is observed. The soap
with the maximum foaming capacity is thus, said to be having
the best cleaning capacity. The test requires to be done with
distilled water as well as with tap water. The test of soap on
distilled water gives the actual strength of the soaps cleaning
capacity. The second test with tap water tests the effect of
Ca2+ and Mg2+ salts on their foaming capacities.
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OBJECTIVE:
To compare the foaming capacity of various soaps.
Theory
The foaming capacity of soap depends upon the
nature of the soap and its concentration. This
may be compared by shaking equal volumes of
solutions of different samples having the same
concentration with same force for the same
amount of time. The solutions are then allowed to
stand when the foam produced during shaking
disappears gradually. The time taken for the foam
to disappear in each sample is determined. The
longer the time taken for the disappearance of
the foam for the given sample of soap, greater is
its foaming capacity or cleansing action.
Apparatus Requirements:
Five 100ml conical flasks, five test tubes, 100ml
measuring cylinder, test tube stand, weighing
machine, stop watch.
Chemical Requirements:
Five different soap samples, distilled water, tap
water.
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PROCEDURE
1.Take five 100ml conical flasks and number
them 1,2,3,4,5. Put 16ml of water in each
flask and add 8 grams of soap.
2.Warm the contents to get a solution.
3.Take five test tubes; add 1ml of soap solution
to 3ml of water. Repeat the process for each
soap solution in different test tubes.
4. Close the mouth of the test tube and shake
vigorously for a minute. Do the same for all test
tubes and with equal force.
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5.Start the timer immediately and notice the
rate of disappearance of 2mm of froth.
6.Record the observation in tabular form
Observation
10
The following outcomes were noticed at the end of the
experiment
Result
The cleansing capacity of the soaps taken is in the order:
Santoor > Dove > Cinthol > Tetmosol > Lux
From this experiment, we can infer that Santoor has the
highest foaming capacity, in other words, highest cleaning
capacity. Lux, on the other hand is found to have taken the
least amount of time for the disappearance of foam
produced and thus is said to be having the least foaming
capacity and cleansing capacity.
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The tests show negative results for the presence of the
salts causing hardness in water. The water used does not
contain salts of Ca2+ and Mg2+. The tap water provided is
soft and thus, the experimental results and values hold
good for distilled water and tap water.
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