Why is soap alkaline

Soap is actually around the same pH as baking soda! How the heck does that get me clean? Soap has two main mechanisms of action, both of which come from it being a surfactant , which comes from the words "surface active agent. You know how you always have to shake up salad dressing before you pour it because it always separates into two layers? One end of the soap molecule is hydrophilic water-loving and binds to water the black dots of the drawing below.

The other end is hydrophobic water-hating hydrocarbon chain that binds to oil molecules the purple tails in the drawing. Thus, when you rinse off soapy water, it takes the oil with it. And ta-da! The other mechanism of action is that it reduces the surface tension of water. The decrease in surface tension allows soapy water to get into more nooks and crannies than water alone.

Ah, well, if you have sodium lauryl sulfate abbreviated as SLS in the ingredients list of your soap, bodywash, or shampoo, then The MacBath regrets to inform you that you do not actually have any soap—at least according to the FDA. Fat molecules contain three ester links. These can be hydrolysed when they are heated with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. This results in the formation of glycerol and a salt - soap. Fats and oils are esters made from glycerol and long chain fatty acids.

Consider the hydrolysis of this triglyceride found in animal fat. If you are looking for a product which is not listed in this table, please contact us for further information. Information: For the alkaline soaps mentioned above the parameters acid value and saponification value refer to the fatty acid used during production. Alkaline Soaps Alkaline soaps are — like metallic soaps - salts from fatty acids, but unlike the metallic soaps, alkaline soaps are water-soluble.

If you have additional questions about bar soap pH and how it impacts that products that we manufacturer for our customers for use on the face and the body, please contact our Sales Team.

Through a transparent and collaborative partnership, we can help you serve your customers' needs from head to toe. Since , Natural Products Expo East has served as a platform for groundbreaking developments across the food, beverage, personal care, and supplement industries, with a specific focus on naturally Every summer, industry professionals flock from near and far to attend Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas, the leading B2B exhibition within the beauty sector.

This highly anticipated and Understanding the pH of Bar Soap. By: Twincraft Jun 12