ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB: SAPONIFICATION REACTION (MAKING SOAP)

Samples of synthesized soaps: Colorful!

INTRODUCTION:

In this lab, the students will prepare soap using olive oil and sodium hydroxide by the process of
saponification. Saponification involves the basic hydrolysis of triglycerides which are esters of fatty acids
to form sodium salt of the carboxylic acid and glycerol. This requires precise and accurate measurements
of the oil and the sodium hydroxide. The process involves dissolving the NaOH in water (exothermic
reaction) and the oil is heated on a hotplate. Fragrances are added and the soap should be left to stand as
the pH decreases over several days. Sodium hydroxide usually produces hard soap compared to KOH,
which produces soft soap.
Note:
 A printed formal lab report is due after a week to allow pH readings for several days.
 A rubric is included in the lab handout; please include the rubric with the lab report
 Results are shared but do complete your own lab report; not with your partner
 Hand in the lab report on time.

Purpose

The purpose of this experiment is to make soap using sodium hydroxide solution and olive oil through the
process of saponification. This will help the student to experience the basic hydrolysis of esters as well as
to determine some of the soap properties.

1
Materials needed:
Olive oil (100 mL)
Sodium hydroxide (14.0 g)
Distilled water (46 mL)
Crayon (1/2 piece)
Stirring rods
pH paper
250 mL beakers
100 mL beaker
100 mL graduated cylinder
50 mL graduated cylinder
Thermometer
Goggles & gloves
Hot plate
Plastic or Styrofoam cup
Fragrance

Safety:
 Wear safety goggles, gloves and lab apron.
 NaOH will burn the skin and the eyes.
 Wash any NaOH splashed on the skin/eyes.
 Work with the groups assigned by the teacher.

Procedure
1. Measure 100 mL of olive oil into the 250 mL beaker
2. Measure 14 g of NaOH into a 100 mL beaker and set it aside until step 6.
3. Add half a piece of crayon to the oil to colour the soap (choose your favorite color).
4. Place the oil on a hot plate and heat to 75 0C while stirring carefully with a glass rod to mix the
crayon. Do not use the thermometer to stir the oil. To take the temperature, suspend the
thermometer at the center of the liquid oil. Remove the thermometer from the beaker after each
reading when the oil is on the hot plate.
5. At 75 oC, remove the oil from the hot plate and allow it to cool to 55 0C.
6. As you wait for the oil to cool down, prepare NaOH solution by adding 46.0 mL of cold distilled
water to the NaOH slowly and stir until the NaOH dissolves
Caution must be observed as the concentrated sodium hydroxide (lye) is corrosive and can cause
burns to skin, destruction of clothing and irreversible cornea damage to the eye. At no time are
your safety glasses/goggles to be removed during this experiment.

2
 7. Measure the temperature of NaOH and allow it to cool down to 40 0C. NaOH may take a while to
cool down; you can place it in a beaker of cold water.
8. When the oil is at 55 0C and NaOH at 40 0C, carefully pour the NaOH solution in a thin stream into
the oil while steadily stirring the mixture.
9. Continue stirring the mixture for 10 – 20 minutes (add a few drops of the fragrance) until an
emulsion is formed and the soap becomes as thick as honey.
10. Quickly pour the soap into a plastic/Styrofoam cup and write the team names on it. Place it in a
drawer to allow the completion of the reaction.
11. Test the pH by wetting the pH paper and touching the soap then record the reading. Allow the soap
to stand for 24 hours.
12. After 24 hrs, test the pH of the soap each day for several days until the pH is between 8 and 9.
13. Test its washing ability by washing your hands when the pH is around 8 or 9.
14. Record all the observations on the table below:

Observation

Procedure Observation
Addition of 46 mL of cold distilled water to
14 g of NaOH
Addition of the NaOH solution in a thin
stream into the oil followed by stirring
Pouring the mixture into the plastic/
Styrofoam cup when it is as thick as honey
Testing the washing ability of the soap

PH level of the soap:

Hours pH Level
0

3
Analysis questions: (8 Marks)

1. What is saponification?

2. How does soap help oil to dissolve in water?

3. Explain the cleansing action of soap using a diagram of soap micelles.

4. Write an equation showing the reaction of the fat with sodium hydroxide to produce the soap
sodium stearate

5. Show the products of acid-catalyzed and base-catalyzed hydrolysis for this fat molecule: (2 marks)

6. What is trans-esterification process? Include an equation. (2 marks)

4
LABORATORY RUBRIC CHEMISTRY: INQUIRY: TOTAL MARKS: /35
WORK NEEDED SATISFACTORY GOOD EXCELLENT
0 1 2 3
No introduction is An introduction is Good introduction Correct introduction for the
Introduction present made but has little but not complete experiment with chemical
relation equations

Identifies purpose No purpose present Identifies part of Identifies the The focus of the experiment
the purpose purpose generally is clearly and precisely
defined in a purpose

Materials and No list of materials A few of materials Most of materials Complete list of materials
Apparatus and apparatus are and apparatus used and apparatus used and apparatus used
provided provided provided provided

Procedure - Not written in the - Some written up - Most written up in - All written up in the past
past tense passive in the past tense the past tense tense passive
- Spelling, passive passive
grammar, S.I. usage - Spelling, - Spelling, - Spelling, grammar, S.I.
are mostly incorrect grammar, S.I. usage grammar, S.I. usage usage are correct in all or
- Procedure not in are correct in some are correct in most almost all cases
numbered steps cases cases
- Procedure in - Procedure in - Procedure in numbered
numbered steps numbered steps steps

Observations Tables require Tables require Tables are Tables are appropriate,
major correction minor correction appropriate, correct correct, detailed and easily
and are incomplete and partially and legible understood with all info
complete
Discussion of Identifies few Identifies some Identifies most Identifies both obvious and
results patterns or trends obvious patterns patterns and trends subtle patterns and trends
and trends

Error analysis Does not analyze Evaluates some Identifies most - Evaluates thoroughly all
possible sources of sources or error or errors and sources of error and
error limitations to the limitations; few limitations
lab improvements - Suggests improvements to
the method
Conclusions -No conclusions - Conclusions only - Conclusions are - Conclusions are supported
present repeat the purpose supported by some fully by observations found
- A statement is observations & during experiment
- Conclusion does included to show relate back to - Conclusions relate back to
not support the purpose with no purpose purpose with support from
observations observations observations
Use of scientific Uses few accurate Uses some accurate Uses correct Uses terminology and units
terminology terms and units terminology and terminology and with accuracy and precision
units units

Analysis questions: /8

5
Sample Formal Lab Report: Soap Preparation Experiment
Introduction
(The intro will vary depending on the student but should have the definitions plus the equation for the
reaction)
Organic chemistry reactions have been recorded as far back as 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon. The formula
of soap was written down in 2200 BC as the mixture of water, alkali and cassia oil. Since then, soap have
been made and used by humans as an essential part of their lives.
Soap is an anionic surfactant that is used with water to clean and wash. Its components are oils/fats and
base. The two types of bases that can be used to make soap are sodium hydroxide and potassium
hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide produces hard soap while potassium hydroxide makes soft or liquid soap.
Both animal fats and vegetable oils can be used to make soap. However, vegetable oils tend make the soap
softer.
The process of saponification is the hydrolysis of an ester in basic conditions to form an alcohol and a salt
of a carboxylic acid. Commonly, it is known as the reaction of a base with fat or oil to form soap. The
following is a formula for saponification:

Purpose

The purpose of this experiment was to make soap using sodium hydroxide solution and olive oil through
the process of saponification. This would help to understand the chemistry behind the basic hydrolysis of
esters and to determine some of the properties of soap.

Materials
 Olive oil (100 mL)  100 mL graduated cylinder
 50 mL graduated cylinder
 Sodium hydroxide (14.0 g)  Thermometer
 Distilled water (46 mL)  Goggles & gloves
 Crayon (1/2 piece)  Hot plate
 Stirring rods  Plastic or Styrofoam cup
 pH paper  Fragrance
 250 mL beakers  100 mL beaker

6
Procedure
1. Measured 100 mL of olive oil into the 250 mL beaker
2. Measured 14 g of NaOH into a 100 mL beaker and set it aside until step 6.
3. Added half a piece of green crayon to the oil to colour the soap
4. Placed the oil on a hot plate and heated to 75 0C while stirring carefully with a glass rod to mix the
crayon.
5. At 75 oC, removed the oil from the hot plate and allowed it to cool to 55 0C.
6. While waiting for the oil to cool down, prepared NaOH solution by adding 46.0 mL of cold
distilled water to the 14 g NaOH slowly and stirred until the NaOH dissolved.
Caution was observed as the concentrated sodium hydroxide (lye) is corosive and can cause burns
to skin, destruction of clothing and irreversible cornea damage to the eye. Safety glasses/goggles
were kept on during the experiment.
7. Measured the temperature of NaOH and allowed it to cool down to 40 0C.
8. When the oil was at 55 0C and NaOH at 40 0C, carefully poured the NaOH solution in a thin stream
into the oil while stirring the mixture.
9. Continued stirring the mixture for 10 – 20 minutes until an emulsion was formed and the soap
became as thick as honey. Added three drops Pomegranate fragrance oil. (Every year, a few
students volunteer to bring the fragrances and the last for a long time).
10. Quickly poured the soap into a plastic/Styrofoam cup and wrote the team names. Placed the cup in
a drawer to allow the completion of the reaction.
11. Tested the pH by wetting the pH paper and touching the soap then recorded the reading. Allowed
the soap to stand for 24 hours.
12. After 24 hrs, tested the pH of the soap each day for several days until the pH was 8.
13. Tested the washing ability of the soap by washing hands.
14. Recorded all the observations.

Observations

Procedure Observation
Addition of 46 mL of cold The solution was foggy at the beginning and the
distilled water to 14 g of NaOH reaction was exothermic
Addition of the NaOH solution in The mixture of oil and NaOH thickened gradually
a thin stream into the oil followed with stirring. The colour was green
by stirring
Pouring the mixture into the As soon as the mixture was poured into the
plastic/ Styrofoam cup Styrofoam cup, it became thick really quickly
Testing the washing ability of the Washing ability: was good and produced lather
soap Smell: Pomegranate

7
PH level of the soap:
Hours pH Level
0 12
24 11
48 11
Weekend No readings were taken
120 8

Discussion

At the beginning of the experiment, it was observed that when the oil and the crayon were melted in the
250 mL beaker on the hot plate, the crayon melted slowly as it is more stable and solid and the solution
attained a green colour. When cold water was added to the NaOH, the solution, along with its beaker,
heated up. The NaOH solution is exothermic, thus releasing energy in the form of heat when the reaction
was carried out. As the NaOH solution and the coloured oil were mixed together, there were no immediate
changes, but over time and after stirring continuously, the mixture started to thicken. When the mixture
was as thick as honey, the soap was poured into the cup. The pH was tested and the value was 12. The
next two days, the pH was still at 11. Fortunately after the weekend, the pH of the soap decreased to 8,
which is the accepted pH for soap. After 120 hours (when the pH of the soap was at 8), the soap’s washing
ability was tested. The soap washed nicely, produced lather and left a pleasant scent on the hands.

Sources of Experimental Error (Two versions of errors)

Description 1:
In this experiment, many things could be improved upon. When the oil was heated on the hot plate, the
beaker should have been taken off the hot plate the moment it reached the desired temperature of 75oC.
Instead, the beaker was left on the hot plate even though the hot plate was unplugged from the outlet. The
temperature exceeded the desired value and reached almost 100 oC. This affected the efficiency of the
experiment. Time was wasted trying to cool the beaker down to the appropriate temperature. Also while
time was wasted waiting for the beaker to cool down, the NaOH cooled down to 35 oC and had to be
warmed to 40 oC. This might have affected the saponification. However, in the result of the experiment,
the reaction did not appear to have been affected by the temperature changes. The temperatures had to be
exactly in range with each other to have the reaction work completely between the two components. In the
next execution of this experiment, the temperature measurements should be cautiously watched to ensure
precise and accurate results.
8
Description 2:
There were a few errors present during the experiment. The first error was that instead of adding half a
piece of crayon to the oil, two full pieces of crayons were added. This action required more time to heat
the oil and melt the crayons. In addition, the oil (with the crayons) was unintentionally overheated, which
may have changed its viscosity and caused little evaporation to occur. Also, the temperature of the NaOH
solution decreased to 35 ̊C and therefore had to be heated until it reached 40 ̊C. There errors may have
changed the results of the experiments moderately.
In order to improve the execution of the experiment, half a piece of crayon or at most one piece should be
added to the oil. Also, more careful attention should be paid when heating the oil to ensure that it will not
get overheated. Additionally, the experiment could be carried out quicker in order not to allow the
temperature of the NaOH solution to decrease. All of these improvements will produce an exceptional
experiment with more accurate results.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the experiment was successful and its purpose was achieved. The purpose of this
experiment was to produce soap using a saponification reaction, with the reactants being a sodium
hydroxide solution and olive oil. Soap was indeed created from the experiment. Its pH reached 8 from 12
in a few days and its washing ability resulted positively. Knowing the process and materials to create soap
is fascinating and allows students to further their understanding in organic chemistry reactions.

Analysis questions answers: (Most student answers may not be as detailed as shown below)
1. What is saponification?
Saponification is the hydrolysis of an ester in basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of a
carboxylic acid. It is the chemical reaction of a strong base with fat or oil to make the products of soap and
glycerol. Water molecules break the ester bonds in the triglyceride. The sodium ion or potassium ion is
combined with the carboxylic acid chain. The hydroxide ion is combined with the remaining component
of the triglyceride to form glycerol. Therefore, the products of the triglyceride and strong base are an
alcohol (glycerol) and a salt of a carboxylic acid also known as the soap.
2. How does soap help oil to dissolve in water?
Soap molecules are surfactants with a negative charge and also an emulsifying agent. The hydrocarbon
chains are non-polar and hydrophobic. They do not dissolve in water but help dissolve non-polar
molecules. The other end consists of spheres that are hydrophilic and readily dissolve in water. The
hydrophobic tails are the interior and enclose the oil in a micelle while the hydrophilic heads are the
exterior of the micelle. The surfactant then lifts the oil from the surface and emulsifies it into smaller
droplets to be washed away.

9
3. Explain the cleansing action of soap using a diagram of soap micelles.
Inside of the micelle are long hydrocarbon chains that are hydrophobic and non-polar. The
solubility principle states that only polar molecules can dissolve polar molecules and
only non-polar molecules can dissolve non-polar molecules. Therefore the interior
hydrocarbon chains surround the non-polar molecules that water as a polar molecule
cannot dissolve. The hydrocarbon chains dissolve the non-polar molecules such as oil.
The carboxyl salt end is polar and is attracted to the polar water molecules because it
is hydrophilic. The non-polar substances are surrounded by micelles of the soap and
are suspended until it is washed away by water.

4. Write an equation showing the reaction of the fat with sodium hydroxide to produce the soap sodium
stearate

O
CH2—O—C—(CH2)16—CH3
CH2—OH
O O
CH2—O—C—(CH2)16—CH3 + 3NaOH  CH—OH + 3NaO—C—(CH2)16—CH3

O CH2—OH
CH2—O—C—(CH2)16—CH3

(Triglyceride) + (Sodium Hydroxide)  (Glycerol) + (Sodium Stearate)

(IUPAC name: sodium octadecanoate)

5. Show the product of acid-catalyzed and base-catalyzed hydrolysis for this fat molecule:
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis:
O
CH2—O—C—(CH2)10—CH3
CH2—OH
O O
CH2—O—C—(CH2)10—CH3 + H+  CH—OH + 3HO—C—(CH2)10—CH3

O CH2—OH
CH2—O—C—(CH2)10—CH3

(Triglyceride) + (Hydrogen ions)  (Glycerol) + (Dodecanoic acid)

10
Base-catalyzed hydrolysis:
O
CH2—O—C—(CH2)10—CH3
CH2—OH
O O
CH2—O—C—(CH2)10—CH3 + 3NaOH  CH—OH + 3NaO—C—(CH2)10—CH3

O CH2—OH
CH2—O—C—(CH2)10—CH3
(Triglyceride) + (Sodium Hydroxide)  (Glycerol) + (Sodium dodecanoate)

6. What is trans-esterification process?

Trans-esterification is the process by which an ester reacts with an alcohol to produce a new ester and a
new alcohol by exchanging different organic groups. In a trans-esterification process the alcohol part of
the ester switches with a different alcohol to form an ester of the alcohol it is reacting with and an alcohol
from the original ester. This is illustrated below:
O O
|| ||
R-C-O-R’ + HO-R’’  R-C-O-R’’ + OH-R’

11