Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

Question:  How do you make soap?  I need the ingredients.
I wanna know how to make 2lbs of soap.
Can you help please....
 c lui

Answer:
The reaction of a fat (a saturated triglyceride ester)
with sodium hydroxide can be used to make
soap and glycerol. This is how your great-great-grandmother
made soap.
 
I'm afraid that I can't be more specific online,
since such experiments are a bit hazardous and
should only be done under adult supervision, which
is a little hard to ensure in this forum...
hope this gives you a starting place though -
 
topper