Soaps, Detergentsand Disinfectants Technology Handbook (3rd Revised Edition)(Washing Soap, Laundry Soap, Handmade Soap,Detergent Soap, Liquid Soap , Hand Wash, Liquid Detergent, Detergent Powder ,Bar, Phenyl, Floor Cleaner, Toilet Cleaner, Mosquito Coils, Naphthalene Balls,Air Freshener, Hand Sanitizer and Aerosols Insecticide)
Soaps are cleaning agents that are usually madeby reacting alkali (e.g., sodium hydroxide) with naturally occurring fat or fattyacids. A soap is a salt of a compound known as a fatty acid. A soap moleculeconsists of a long hydrocarbon chain (composed of carbons and hydrogen’s) witha carboxylic acid group on one end which is ionic bonded to a medallion,usually a sodium or potassium. The hydrocarbon end is nonpolar and is solublein nonpolar substances (such as fats and oils), and the ionic end (the salt ofa carboxylic acid) is soluble in water. Soap is made by combining tallow (orother hard animal fat) or vegetable or fish oil with an alkaline solution. Thetwo most important alkalis in use are caustic soda and caustic potash.