by 
The Curious Bag
-
Soap is defined as a substance made from fat and an alkali, such as lye. Our modern interpretation of the word includes products made of many things, and not always including lye.
Composition
Most soaps are made of fats, or oils, and lye. Lye soap is very harsh and drying. Lye, or sodium hydroxide, was traditionally created by burning wood.
History
The ashes of the woodstove were used to make soap. Because lye can burn and cause injuries, other safer ingredients are now used in soap production. There is no residue from the lye in the final product. It is in the making of soap that the lye is dangerous.
Function
To make the chemical reaction that creates soap, a chemical needs to be used, either lye or another type of reactant, such as one from a saponin plant, like soapwort.
Process
Fats and oils are mixed with sodium hydroxide and water (lye). As these ingredients are stirred, the molecules mix and change chemically to make something new---soap.
Additives
Other natural alternatives frequently added to homemade soap include aloe vera, milk, castor oil, coconut oil and olive oil.
Source:
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC