AY Honors/Making soap

Re-edited info from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Do-It-Yourself/Soap on WikiBooks.

Making soap from lard.

Equipment

• Lard or some sort of fat.
• Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye.
• Glass beaker and stirring rod.
• Bunsen burner or other means of heating solution.
• Mold for making soap bars (any flexible plastic container).

• Vinegar just in case.

SAFETY NOTES

Gloves, labcoat and appropriate eyewear should be worn when handling the Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). You should do this in a well-ventilated area, preferably in a fume hood or outdoors. DO NOT BREATHE THE FUMES. Wash with vinegar if you get some on your skin (have some vinegar handy before starting the experiment) - DO NOT wash with water!. Mixing lye with water results in a chemical reaction that creates extreme heat - hence, washing lye off your hands (for example) with water will only initiate that reaction on your hand, resulting in chemical burn.

SAFETY NOTES

What to do

1. Place 16 oz. of lard (or any other fat, such as oil or butter) in a beaker.
2. In another container add 2.1 oz. (59.5 g) of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to 6 oz. (170g) of water (do not add water to Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) - it will splatter) stir to dissolve and let cool to 110 F.
3. Melt fat under low heat to 110º F (49 ºC) and add the Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution while stirring until the base has completely reacted with the lard (about 20 to 30 minutes)
4. Pour the mixture of base and lard into molds.
5. Let this cool and sit for a day or two. Let the soap cakes cure for three weeks before using.

Additional Soapmaking References

• History and Process of Soap Making
• Cold process for Soapmaking
• Melt and Pour process for Soapmaking
• Rebatching technique