10 Bite Size Soap Science Facts

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I loved science at school although math was not one of my strong points, it was quite a long time ago now but now I love it even more and find it fascinating which is good and bad depending upon your point of view. It means I have a good understanding of what goes on in that soap mold but also means if you take a soap-making workshop with me you most likely will get a science lesson too 😆 .

These are my top 10 interesting soap science facts. Not in any particular order, although they seem to get a little more technical the further they go!!

1. The boiling point of your lye solution is 245 degrees Fahrenheit or 118 in centigrade

2. No glycerin is added to your soap but it is created as a by-product of the saponification process.

3. Soap molecules are long and thin and have a water-loving end (hydrophilic) and grease and oil-loving end (hydrophobic). When you wash your hands, the hydrophobic end of the soap molecule grabs the grease and oils and the dirt that is trapped within whilst the hydrophilic end binds with the water which then pulls the hydrophobic end complete with dirt and oils away and washes them down the sink

4. The fumes that are given off when you mix your water with your sodium hydroxide are hydrogen. ( Bonus - the reaction that occurs between your NaOH and water and makes it hot very quickly is called an exothermic reaction) It is worth noting that if you use ice cubes to mix your NaOH with it will drastically reduce the fumes and also keep your lye solution below 100 f once mixed.