Thread: The Chemistry of Soap

Good Morning Gentlemen,

I don't venture out here often...and for those who have no idea who I am. My name is Colleen Hurley and I'm a Cold-Process (cp) soapmaker. Over the course of the last year, I've had several Gents from here and SMF who have helped me to develop and refine my Shaving Soaps. And as a way of saying Thank You, and to give back to this Great Community of Men. I wanted to share with you some interesting articles from some of my "soaping books"

This will not be a seminar on "why mine is better"....but rather just Fun and interesting Facts about Soap, because soap is really about "Chemistry". Please ask Questions if you have any....as this helps me to really dig and do more research, increasing my knowledge also, which in turn helps me to be a better soapmaker.

There are many different methods of making soap....and each has its pros and cons. But first...its kinda cool to understand "How Soap Actually Cleans. (The Natural Soap Book by Susan Cavitch)

....To clean skin or fabric, something must make the surface wet and attract the dirt away. Soap does both.

Ironically, water alone does not wet well. Water molecules are closely bonded and resist being broken apart. They bead up on the surface and do not spread out easily. (like the raindrops on the well waxed hood of that Fire Engine Red 1968 Firebird...lol, my insert ) Soap acts as a surfactant, or a surface active agent, which means that it helps the water to soak in rather than form tight droplets. Soap molecules HAVE HEADS which ATTRACT water, and TAILS which REPEL it. When mixed with water, these soap molecules push their hydrophobic tails up through the surface of the water, to get as far away as possible. All of these tails poking through the top layer break up the surface tension of the water and cause it to spread out and wet more thoroughly.

Soap removes dirt and grease in two stages. First, it attaches itself to dirt, and then it suspends the dirt in lather until a rinse carries them both away. More specifically, a soap molecule is a chain of atoms-- including carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen-- arranged with a distinct Head and Tail. The head is attracted to water, the tail to dirt. The soap molecule cleans by embedding its tail into the dirt and dislodging it as its head pulls toward the water. The soap then holds the dirt in suspension until it's rinsed away.
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Pretty Cool don't ya think...but of course I'm the Soapmaker! So, what I'd like to do is to write something each weekend. Just a small article like the one above. And as long as there is interest from you fine Gentlemen, we can keep it going as long as you like....

If you have questions regarding something written, or if you'd like to know something else in the Soap Realm....like what does "Superfat" mean? or Whats the difference between "Kaolin Clay" and "Betonite" clays in shaving soap....just ask, and I'll do my best to give an answer.

Warm Regards, Colleen

Thanks Colleen!

I remember one of my physics professors explaining dishwashing in terms of potential energy. He said that the grease/pan interface had greater potential energy than the grease/soap + soap/pan interfaces, and the system naturally tended towards the lower energy state. That was why the soapy water lifted off the grease.

The potential energy theory has a lot of predictive value. For instance, I often don't even have the potential energy to do the dishes!

Colleen, you're off to a great start! I'm definitely looking forward to the next one

Colleen,

This could prove to be a very interesting thread.
Not only is it going to be informative but entertaining
as well.

Looking forward to all the twists and turns that it
is going to take.

Now all I need to do is come up with a really
good question......



Terry

It is very interesting to see this topic. I cannot wait for the other ones to fall into place as well.

Great post. I'm looking forward to future installments (as long as there isn't going to be a test afterward )

I'm back

Thanks Colleen,
I enjoyed you post hope to hear more.

This is a bit off topic but I remember a friend telling me to use a little soap (a few drops) in bug spray, it breaks the surface tension on the leaves of plants so it adheres better.

Originally Posted by steve

Great post. I'm looking forward to future installments (as long as there isn't going to be a test afterward )

lol...Colleen

Hi Professor Colleen! Congrats on the new thread and good luck with the maelstrom of all things soap in your life lately.

We have to come up with a different acronym for your addiction because SAD just doesn't seem to match at all with you.

John