Abstract

Our objective of this experiment is to produce soap and to compare its properties to the

synthetic detergent. In this experiment also to determine the effectiveness of soap that we

produce compare to domestic detergent.

Soap production in this laboratory experiment is by saponification. Soap produce

were in small quantities, its because we need it only for experimental purposes. The

effectiveness of this soap and detergent were conduct by adding MgCl 2, FeCl2 and CaCl2 to

the soap and detergent stock solution. Also using piece of cloth that being soaked in tomato

sauce being washed by soap solution and detergent solution and compare the colour of the

cloth which one is most effective for cleaning.

The results of this experiment may be vary due to certain error while the experiment

were conducted. This experiment was performed successfully and the objective was achieved.

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 Introduction

In these days, soaps and detergents are used frequently in our daily life in many ways

such as cleaning, washing, bathing and other. More and less, soap and detergents are both

basic need.

The R groups, where R is a shorthand notation for methyl, CH3-, ethyl CH3CH2-,

Propyl, CH3CH2CH2-, or more complex hydrocarbon chains called alkyl groups. The R

group in soaps are hydrocarbon chains that generally contain 12 to18 carbon atoms. Sodium

fatty acids such as lauric (vegetable oil), palmitic (palm oil), and stearic (animal fat) acids are

just a few examples of soaps.

CH3(CH2)10COONa sodium laurate

CH3(CH2)16COONa sodium stearate

Soap is a generic term for the sodium or potassium salts of long-chain organic acids

(fatty acids), made from naturally occurring esters in animal fats and vegetable oils. In a

process called saponification, fats and oils are technically heated with the presence of a

strong base (commonly sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) to produce fatty acid salts

and glycerol.

The hydrocarbon chain in soaps may contain saturated (no double bond) or

unsaturated chains (contains double bonds). Most bars of soap are of sodium salts because

sodium salt is usually in solid. Potassium salts are the basis of liquid soaps, shaving creams,

and greases. Fats and vegetable oils are triglycerides. Triglycerides in an ester derived from

three fatty acids as shown in Equation 1.

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 EQUATION 1

Detergent can be translated as a water-soluble cleansing agent that combines with

impurities and dirt to make them more soluble and differs from soap in not forming a scum

with the salts in hard water. A variety of detergent can be found today, some of them may be

ionic, cationic or even non-ionic. Detergent contains a builder which is a compound

responsible for removing calcium and magnesium ions in hard water. Detergent is commonly

mixtures of chemical compounds including alkyl benzenesulfonates, which are similar to

soap but are less affected by hard water. While detergent is still sold in powdered form, liquid

detergents have been taking major market shares in many countries since their introduction in

the 1950s.[ CITATION ECO16 \l 1033 ]

Modern detergent formulations the entire product vs just the surfactant contain

several components. Three main ingredients are builders (50% by weight, approximately), the

alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant (15%), and bleaches (7%).[ CITATION ECO16 \l 1033 ]

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FIGURE 2 Three kinds of anionic detergents: branch alkylbenzenesulfonates, linear

alkylbenzenesulfonates, and a soap.

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 Aim

To make a soap and compare its properties with a synthetics detergent.

Theory

Soap is a weak acid. Consequently, hydrolysis occurs to some extent when soap dissolves in

water. Soap solutions tend to be slightly alkaline (basic) due to partial hydrolysis of the acid.

Theoretically, the soap is produced by a saponification or basic hydrolysis reaction of a fat or

oil as shown in Equation 2.

EQUATION 2

Soap molecule consists of a long non-polar tail (the hydrocarbon chain of the fatty

acid) and a highly polar end (the ionic group COO-). The hydrophobic (non-polar) portion of

soap is soluble in non-polar compound like grease and oils whereas the hydrophilic (polar)

end dissolves in water.

A micelle is formed, or also called suspended microscopic droplets from grease and

oils surrounding and breaking up. Micelles contain very small amounts of oil or grease in

their centre. The micelle together with the dirt washed away when rinsed with water. Soap is

an excellent cleanser because of its ability to act as an emulsifying agent.

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 An emulsifier is capable of dispersing one liquid into another immiscible liquid. This

means that while oil (which attracts dirt) doesn't naturally mix with water, soap can suspend

oil/dirt in such a way that it can be removed.[ CITATION Ann17 \l 1033 ]

FIGURE 3 A micelle

When a dirty cloth is placed in a soap solution, the long non-polar hydrocarbon tail of

the soap molecules move towards the oily dirt particles and the polar heads move towards the

water. This forms a spherical structure with polar parts of the molecule on the surface and

non-polar parts in the centre. This spherical structure is called micelle. This micelle is

attracted towards water and carries the oily dirt particles along with it. This causes the dirt

particles to detach from the fibres of the cloth. In this manner, clothes become free from dirt

or dust.

Both acidic and hard water (water contains high concentrated of Mg or Ca ions)

reduce cleaning action of soap due to its properties of a weak acid[ CITATION Bri17 \l

1033 ]. Micelle is difficult to be formed, because soap molecules would not be able to interact

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with water. When the soap reacts with either acidic or hard water, scum which is known as

insoluble fat is formed.

There are several techniques to overcome this problem. Ion exchange techniques by adding

water softening agents such as sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to

remove hard water ions from solution. Instead, Syndets techniques refer to replacing soaps

in that the nonpolar fatty acids groups with alkyl or aryl sulfonic acids (ROS03H). The word

syndet is derived from synthetic combined with detergent. Technically it refers to the

binding that occurs between different detergents, also called surfactants or tensioactive

agents[ CITATION Ste14 \l 1033 ]. These detergents, which have an affinity for oils and repel

water, surround dirt with small structures that are then removed by water. The alkyl or aryl

sulfonic acids have long chains of carbon atoms giving the hydrophobic (nonpolar) end. The

salt of the sulfonic acid (sulfonate) group forms the hydrophilic end of the molecule. The

difference in polar groups is one of the key distinctions between a soap and a synthetic

detergent. Syndets form micelles and cleanse in the same manner as soaps.

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 Apparatus

250-mL Erlenmeyer flask Distilled water

20-mL ethanol Synthetic detergent (Dynamo)

250-mL flask Boiling-water bath

600-mL beaker Ice bath

6M sodium hydroxide Vacuum Filtration apparatus

Calcium chloride Filter paper

Magnesium chloride Buchner funnel

Iron chloride pH paper

Sodium chloride Test tubes

Stirring rod Mineral oil

Vegetable oil Cloth test striped soaked in tomato

sauce.

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 PROCEDURE

1. Soap preparation

1. 12.5 mL of vegetable oil was placed in a 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask. 10 mL of

ethanol and 12.5 mL of 6 M sodium hydroxide solution were added to the flask. The

mixtures were stirred with the stirring rod to mix the contents of the flask.

2. The 250-mL flask was heated in a boiling-water bath inside of a 600-mL beaker.

3. The mixture was stirred continuously during the heating process to prevent the

mixture from foaming. When the mixture foam to the point of nearly overflowing, the

flask was removed from the boiling-water bath until the foaming subsides, then

heating was continued. The mixture was heated for 20-30 minute or until the alcohol

odour was no longer detectable.

4. The paste-like mixture was removed from the boiling-water bath and the flask was

cooled in an ice bath for 10-15 minutes.

5. The flask was cooled assemble the vacuum filtration apparatus. The vacuum flask

was secured to a ring stand with a utility clamp to prevent the apparatus from toppling

over.

6. A piece of filter paper was weighed to the nearest 0.001 g and the mass was

recorded. The filter paper was placed inside the Buchner funnel. The paper was moist

with water so that it fits flush in the bottom of the funnel.

7. Once the flask has cooled, 75mL of saturated sodium chloride (NaCl) solution were

added to the flask to salt out the soap.

8. The water was turned on at the aspirator slowly. The mixtures were poured from the

flask into the Buchner funnel. Once all of the liquid has filtered through the funnel,

the soap was washed with 10 mL of ice-cold water. The suction filtration was

continued until all of the water is removed from the soap.

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 9. The soap was removed from the funnel and pressed between two paper towels to

dry it. The filter paper and dried soap were weighed, and the mass was recorded to the

nearest 0.001 and the mass of dried soap was determined by difference. The mass was

recorded.

2. Comparison of soap and detergent properties (precipitation and emulsification)

1. A stock soap solution was prepared by dissolving 2 g of prepared soap in 100 mL of

boiling, distilled water. The mixtures were stirred until the soap has dissolved and the

solution was allowed to cool.

2. Step 1 was repeated using 2 g of synthetic detergent (Dynamo). When both

solutions were cool, the pH s of each solution was determined using pH meter.

3. The three test tubes were labelled as test tube 1, 2 and 3. Four drops of mineral oil

were added to each test tube. 5 mL of distilled water was added to test tube 1. 5 mL of

stock soap was added to the test tube 2. 5 mL of stock synthetic detergent was added

to test tube 3.

4. Each solution were mixed by shaking and let stand for three to five minutes. Which

of the solutions emulsifies the oil by forming a single layer was noted.

5. The mixtures were poured into Waste Container. The three test tubes were cleaned

and dried.

6. Three test tube were labelled as test tube 1, 2 and 3. 2 mL of stock soap solution

was placed in each of the three test tubes. 2 mL of 1% CaCl 2 solution was added to

test tube 1. 2 mL of 1% MgCl 2 solution was added to test tube 2. 2 mL of 1% FeCl 2

solution to test tube 3. Each test tube was shake to mix the solutions. The observations

were recorded.

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 7. 4 drops of mineral oil were added to each of the tubes in Step 6. Each test tube was

shake to mix the solutions and the solutions were let to stand for three to five minutes.

Which of the solutions emulsifies the oil by forming a single layer was noted.

8. Steps 6-7 were repeated using 2 mL of stock detergent solution.

9. Which of the solutions emulsifies the oil by forming a single layer was noted.

10. The mixtures were poured into the Waste Container. The test tube were cleaned

and dried.

11. A stock soap was placed in clean test tube and 5 mL of stock detergent solution in

a second test tube. 1 M HCl were added one drop at a time to both solutions until the

pH in each test tube is equal to 3. pH meter is used to measure the pH. The number of

drops of acid added was counted to each mixture.

12. 1 drops of mineral oil was added to each test tube in Step 11. Each test tube was

shake to mix the solution.

3. Comparison of the cleaning abilities of a soap and detergent

1. Two beakers were cleaned, dried and labelled. 10 mL of stock soap solution was

placed in the first beaker. 10 mL of stock detergent solution was placed in the second

beaker.

2. Two cloth test strips that have been soaked in tomato sauce are obtained and placed

one strip in each of the beakers. One cloth strip was placed in beaker 1 and one cloth

strip in beaker 2. Each solution was stirred repeatedly for 5 minutes.

3. The cloth strips were removed from the soap and detergent solution and the excess

water were squeezed out. Each cloth strip was compared visually to determine their

relative cleanliness. The observations were recorded.

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 Result

Soap preparation

Mass of filter paper (g) 0.2461

Mass of filter paper + soap (g) 5.5534

Mass of soap recovered (g) 4.0534

Comparison of soap and detergent properties

Brand name of synthetics detergent Dynamo

pH of soap solution 10.00

pH of synthetics detergent solution 8.00

Comparison of emulsification of soap and detergent

System Emulsification occurred

Distilled water No
Soap Yes
Detergent Yes

Comparison of properties of soap and detergent in hard solution

System Precipitate Oil Emulsified

Soap Detergent Soap Detergent
MgCl2 Yes No No No
CaCl2 Yes No No No
FeCl2 No No Yes No
Acidic Yes No No No

Comparison of soap and detergent in acidic solution by using 1M HCl

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 Sample Soap Synthetic detergent
Drops of 1M HCl 8 7

Cleansing comparison of soap and detergents

BEAKER 1 : SOAP Clean

BEAKER 2: PURE DETERGENT Does not clean
BEAKER 3: DETERGENT SOLUTION Cleaner

Discussion

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This experiment was performed successfully and the objective was achieved. The first

procedure was conducted on 16 May 2017. Then the experiment was completed on 23 May

2017 followed by the second and third experimental procedure.

During the soap preparation, saponification process occurs where the fatty acid

carboxylate ions are formed in the presence of the base. As these carboxylate ions acts as

conjugate bases of the fatty acids, it accept a proton from any sources when placed into water.

For test ion, this experiment is about to test the comparison of the pH value of soap

and detergent. For the pH of soap that was prepared on part A is 10.00 mean while the pH of

detergent solution is 8.00. From here we can conclude pH value of soap prepared is more

basic than synthetic detergent.

For the test of comparison of emulsification of soap and detergent, emulsification

occurred only for test in distilled water, but not in soap and detergent. Emulsification can be

described as the process mixing of two immiscible liquid. From observation, for test in

distilled water, two layers are formed which the bottom layer part is colourless water

meanwhile upper part layer is oil. For test with stock soap, the solution becomes half cloudy

whereas for the test with stock detergent, the solution formed white solution yet both singles

any layer.

For the part of comparison of properties of soap and detergent in hard solution, it

represents the water condition is in hard water which contains Ca 2+, Mg2+ and Fe3+ ions. By

using our soap, precipitate formed in MgCl2 and CaCl2. This is because the metal ions from

the hard water will cause the soap to form an insoluble salt.

Then, mineral oil was added to all of the three mixtures. The hydrocarbon is

hydrophobic and soluble with grease or oil, micelles will still be form. So that, this may not

appear as a good characteristics for the soap as the cleaning agent as it forms precipitate and

emulsifies oil on cloth.

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 Nevertheless, when test for detergent, it forms no precipitation for the three mixtures

and does not emulsifies the oil. Thus, grease and dirt can be cleaned without involving any

precipitation or oil emulsification.

For the test of comparison of soap and detergent in acidic solution, we used 1M of

HCl, What can conclude is pH of soap drops to 3 which required 8 drops of HCl whereas

required 7 drops for detergent. We can observe that the soap has a high value of pH reading

compare with synthetic detergent.

For the final test, to determine the effectiveness of soap and detergent in cleaning

stain on the cloth strip that has been soaked in tomato sauce. The observation obtained from

this experiment is the cloth strip that soaked in detergent is the cleaner than in stock soap.

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 Conclusion

In conclusion, the soap is successfully prepared and the comparison properties of soap and

detergent, which are precipitation, emulsification and cleaning abilities, are made, observed

and recorded.

It can be concluded that detergent is more effective cleaning agent than the soap as it

effective in both hard and soft water. However, soap is also a good cleaning agent but

decrease in effectiveness as it used in hard water. The presence of scum tends to remain

behind and deposits on the cloth.

The detergents have undeniably replaced soap for many cleaning jobs around the

home.

Recommendations

In order to obtain more accurate and best values in this experiment, a few

recommendations and precautions are suggested on the techniques used during the

experiment. The recommendations are:

Wear the gloves that have been provided to avoid any error occurs because the tip of

our fingers is acidic.

All steps in the procedure should be following to get accurate result.

Avoid any contact with any chemical reagents involved.

Any pH reading must be conducted at same temperature for pH is varying at different

temperatures

The observation was made too quickly for the precipitate to form.

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 REFERENCES
1. Anne Marie Helmenstine. (2017, April 11). How Soap Cleans. Retrieved 2017, from
ThoughtCo.: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-dos-soap-clean-606146

2. Brian Oram. (2017, February). Hard Water Hardness Calcium Magnesium Water
Corrosion Mineral Scale. Retrieved from Water Research Centre: http://www.water-
research.net/index.php/water-treatment/tools/hard-water-hardness

3. ECO Prime Solution. (2016). CLEANING AND HYGIENE SOLUTIONS ARTICLES.

Retrieved from Eco Prime Solutions:
http://www.ecoprimesolutions.com/index.php/laundry-detergents.html

4. Stephenson Group . (2014, December 9). Soap versus Syndet. Retrieved 2017, from
Stephenson Personal Care: http://www.stephensonpersonalcare.com/blog/2014-12-09-
soap-vs-syndet

Appendix

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FIGURE 3 Result after the soaked cloth in tomato sauce being clean by using detergent stock
solution, soap stock solution and pure detergent.

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FIGURE 4 Comparison of soap and detergent properties (precipitation and emulsification)

FIGURE 5 Comparison of soap and detergent properties (precipitation and emulsification)

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