SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

NEW YORK SCHOOL

TITLE: CHOCOLATE SAPONIFICATION
Author: Juliana Ramirez
Abstract
In the next report I present an experimental procedure for the formation of a soap called
saponification, where I am making use of the esterification and we can show how an oil
and sodium hydroxide, formed a ester that is the soap and liberate glycerin. The
principal objective is to take in practice the equation of esterification by Fisher. Our
conclusion was really near to the process we want to get, but it wasnt exactly as we
want. Because in our process the mixture result heterogeneous, so we should add less
saturated solution of NaCl and it must to be homogeneous.
Key Words
Saponification
Soap
Bain Marie
Saturated Solution
Objectives:
Prove how in the practice the equation act.

Practice and have clear the esterification concept.

Produce a soap for our use.
Develop skills in the laboratory experimentation by saponification.

Hypothesis:
Do a soap for a daily use by using a chemical equation, with qualities like: good smell,
good aspect, good color, moisturizing skin and cleaning.
Introduction:
Fisher esterification involves the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, the
products react slowly, this can be faster when including the use of catalyzer. The general
reaction follows this:

Each soap molecule has

a very long chain with many carbon atoms and a head with an acid group.
In practice, the soap is made by basic hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide, vegetable oils,
which are esters of long chain carboxylic acids with glycerol. This reaction was discovered
over 2,500 years ago when it was found that rennet is obtained when the fat heated with
wood ashes.
Therefore, soap is the sodium salt of a fatty acid. The negative carboxylate group is polar
and hydrophilic while the hydrocarbon chain is hydrophobic, nonpolar and lipophilic, so
soaps have amphipathic character.
Methods and materials:
-

Olive Oil
Beaker (50 mL)
Beaker (250mL)
12mL of Ethanol (C2H5OH)
12mL of Sodium Hydroxide Solution (NaOH)
Funnel
Glass Stirrer
Timer
Thermometer
Bunsen
Water
NaCl
Brown Coloring
Cocoa Essence
Small Molds

Procedure:

Results:

Image 1 Taken From Above Of The Bain Marie At Aprox. 12 mins.

Image 2 Taken From The Side Of The Bain Marie At Aprox. 12 mins.

Image 3, Both Mixtures In The Small Molds

The pictures above shows two specific moments in the practice: The Bain Marie and Both
Mixtures of Ethanol, Sodium Hydroxide and Olive Oil with The Saturated Solution of
NaCl. The Image 1 and 2 shows how Ethanol, Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Olive Oil
reacts in the Bain Marie at 80C we can observe how this 3 substance reacts at that
temperature and shaking it constant. But after 15 mins the mixture became hard and dry
even that we continue shaking it.
While we were doing this, we make in another beaker the saturated solution of NaCl at
60C.
After the 30 minutes of shaking the first mixture, we were ready to put both solutions in
the small molds. But what we ignore is that we should put more of the first mixture than of
the second mixture (Saturated Nacl Solution) as we did. Thats why in the Image 3 we
observe that the mixtures are completely separated, making it a heterogeneous mixture.
Conclusion:
When we end with the experiment, we noticed that our soap wasnt was what we expected,
because we made a mistake adding more of NaCl Saturated Solution. In the other hand we
practice making something new and we learn how not to do some steps. Our results
doesnt match with our hypothesis, because we were expecting something incredible for
ourselves in smell, useful, visual and cleaner; but it result with a disgusting color, even that
our soap foamed when we try to clean with it, and it result smelling well, but not to
chocolate and we hope it moisture the skin, because was one of the properties of the olive
oil.
Finally we demonstrate that the general equation of the soap in practice act as it said.
References:
(s.f.). Obtenido de http://html.rincondelvago.com/saponificacion-o-fabricacion-de-jabon.html
(s.f.). Obtenido de http://html.rincondelvago.com/obtencion-de-ester-y-saponificacion.html
Innovacion Y Experiencias Educativas. (s.f.). Obtenido de http://www.csicsif.es/andalucia/modules/mod_ense/revista/pdf/Numero_21/MANUELA_CHAVES_1.pdf