How does Soap Work

Soap is a cleansing agent made from the interaction of fats and oils with alkali. Records mention the use of soaps ancient times. Soap making was common in Italy and Spain during the 8th century and by the end of the 13th century, soaps were freely available in France. In 1783, as with all discoveries a Swedish chemist accidentally simulated the reaction that occurs in the present-day boiling process of soap making. He produced a sweet-tasting substance that is now known as glycerin. In 1823, a French chemist discovered the chemical nature of the ingredients used in soap. Soaps are mixtures of sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids which can be produced from oils or fats by reacting them with an alkali at 80°-100 °C in a process known as saponification. Each soap molecule has a long hydrocarbon chain, sometimes called its ‘tail’, with a carboxylate ‘head’. In water, the sodium or potassium ions float free, leaving a negatively charged head.

How Soap Works



Soap is an excellent cleanser because of its ability to act as an emulsifying agent. An emulsifier is capable of dispersing one liquid into another immiscible liquid. Nearly all compounds fall into one of two categories: hydrophilic and hydrophobic. Water and anything that will mix with water are hydrophilic. Oil and anything that will mix with oil are hydrophobic. When water and oil are mixed they separate, which is why hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds just do not mix. When grease or oil is mixed with a soap-water solution, the soap molecules work as a bridge between polar water molecules and non-polar oil molecules.



Since soap molecules have both properties of non-polar and polar molecules soap will form micelles and trap the fats within the micelle. Since the micelle is soluble in water, it can easily be washed away. A good hosing down with plain water with perhaps a little rubbing will do a reasonable job of removing the dirt. Soap is not really necessary for the job. However if the dirt particles have a slightly oily coating then they will stick to your skin like wet mud. In addition, the dirt doesn’t have to even bring its own oily coating. Your skin many times has enough oil on it to make dirt particles stick. But unlike the mud, this dirt is going to stay stuck because oil doesn’t evaporate and dry up as water does. To remove the oil adhering dirt is to seek out and destroy the sticky oil itself. A liquid can then be applied and the dirt will fall off and be swept away. What makes soap special is this ability to remove oil.



One should always be careful while applying any soap or solvent to an open wound, one should make sure that one understands the ingredients or it may make the reaction worse. The soaps which do not contain harmful chemicals also might react with the skin. The wide range of toilet soaps is made of natural as well as synthetic essential oils. These toilet soaps are soft as well as fresh in fragrance.



Some different varieties of soaps available in the market are herbal soaps, antibacterial soaps, medicated soaps, moisturizing soaps and toilet soaps. Aroma forms a very important part of the soaps. Some varieties of soap are famous only for the aroma that they provide. It is a common fact that a single aroma can trigger a string of forgotten memories as smell sends information to that part of the brain where the memories and the emotions are present. This area connects with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland which governs the hormonal system of the body. As a result, aroma trigger a variety of chemical reactions in the body including specific chemicals which can help reduce pain, sexual feelings or induce a feeling of goodness and well-being.



Remember that soaps not only help clean, they can help you glow if you are using a variety that suits the type of your skin. Further, aromatic soaps can help trigger good memories, so if you are longing to going back to being a child, get soap that you used as a child and soak yourself in the tub and close your eyes. You will be able to relive those moments for some time.

How does Soap Work