Soap Science Take Home Sheet

Cool Science Club

Soap Science Take Home Sheet

Soap Curing instructions

You have made a high quality soap using lye, water and fat. The saponification process will continue slowly over time. Your soap must cure for 2-3 weeks before it is truly ready for use. Follow these instructions

After 24 hours, remove the soap from the mold and wrap it in paper.
You may see a few drops of oil seep out of the soap. These are oils that did not saponify. This is a sign of a milder soap.
Let it cure for 2-3 weeks at room temperature before use.
Use it in the shower or at the sink - you have made real soap!
Use the soap sparingly at first - If there are signs of skin irritation, discontinue use.

For full soapmaking instructions go to:

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Definitions

Lye: a caustic solution which is made from ashes and is used for glass, soap making, and certain food preparations. Lye is a very strong base.

Fat: Any of a wide group of compounds consisting of fatty acids bonded to another molecule. Fats include vegetable oils and animal fats - both can be made into soap.

Saponification: The process by which lye and fats combine to form soap.

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