TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS

PAGES

Abstract

Introduction

Objectives

Theory

Apparatus

Procedure

Results

10

Discussion

12

Conclusion

14

Recommendation

14

References

15

Appendices

16

Abstract

This experiment is conducted to determine how the soap is prepared and to show the
comparison of the properties between soap and detergent. Firstly, we test for hard water
effect of water hardness to the soap and detergent and we also observe and take the result for
the precipitation that occurred and also for emulsion when we test by using mineral oil.
Therefore, we also compare soap and detergent in the effect of cleanliness, which one is
easier to clean tomato sauce and we also test behaviour soap and detergent in acidic
condition. From all the result that we get, we can determine the cleaning ability that soap and
detergent can achieve. The soap cleaning ability is affected by the water hardness. When the
water are polluted by metal ion such as Cl- and also by Fe+, the cleaning ability is decrease
because soap now become precipitation when react with metal ion. From the experiment, we
can conclude that the detergent is more likely affective as a cleaning method as it worked
affectively towards the system that we tested. It does not perform any precipitate or oil
emulsified.

Introduction
Soap is anionic surfactant used in combination with water for washing and cleaning,
which historically comes either in solid bars or in the dorm of viscous liquid. Soap is 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. All organic contain the RCO 2H
functional group, where R is shorthand notation for methyl, ethyl, propyl, or more complex
hydrocarbon chains called alkyl groups. Chemist uses the R shorthand notation because these
groups can be very large and the hydrocarbon chain has little effect on the compounds
chemical reactivity. All esters contain the RCO2H functional group.
Hydrocarbon chains that generally contain 12 to 18 carbon atoms are the R groups in
soaps. A few examples of soaps is sodium fatty acids such as lauric (vegetable oil), palmitic
(palm oil), and stearic (animal fat) acids.

Saponification is the basic hydrolysis of an ester producing a carboxylic acid salt and
an alcohol. A lone pair of electrons on the OH- is attracted to the partially positively charged
C atom in the C=O bond in the ester. The C-OR bond breaks generating a carboxylic acid
(RCO2H) and an alcohol (ROH). In the presence of NaOH carboxylic acids are converted to
their sodium salts (RCO2-Na+).
Triglycerides are esters derived from three fatty acids. A triglyceride made from three
lauric acid molecules. For examples of triglycerides are fats and vegetable oils. When a
triglyceride is saponified, three fatty acid salts (soaps) and glycerols are produced. The R
groups in the triglycerides may or may not have the same chain length (same number of
carbons). Thus, different types of soaps may be produced from the saponification of a
particular triglyceride.

Soaps are useful for cleaning because soap molecules have both a hydrophilic end,
which dissolves in water, as well as a hydrophobic end, which is able to dissolve
nonpolargrease molecules. Although grease will normally adhere to skin or clothing, the soap
molecules can form micelles which surround the grease particles and allow them to be
dissolved in water. Applied to a soiled surface, soapy water effectively holds particles in
colloidal suspension so it can be rinsed off with clean water. The hydrophobic portion (made
up of a long hydrocarbon chain) dissolves dirt and oils, while the ionic end dissolves in water.
Therefore, it allows water to remove normally-insoluble matter by emulsification. In other
words, while normally oil and water do not mix, the addition of soap allows oils to dissolve
in water, allowing them to be rinsed away.

Water that contains calcium ions, Ca2+, and magnesium ions, Mg2+, is said to be hard
water. These ions are leached from ground water flowing over rock formations containing
limestone and other minerals. Hard water interferes with the cleaning action of soaps. When
soap is added to hard water, insoluble compounds formed which appear as sticky scum. This
scum leaves a deposit on clothes, skin, and hair. Ring around the collar will be formed. When
it was boiled, hard water leaves a deposit of calcium carbonate, CaCO3. Detergents nowadays
have replaced soap for many cleaning jobs around the home. The development of synthetic
detergents by chemists was a great advantage for people with relatively hard tap water in
their homes.

Objectives
The objectives for this experiment 6 are:

Determine how to prepare a soap

Compare soaps properties to that of a synthetic detergent

All the differences between soap and synthetic detergent can be determined.

Determine the soap and detergent cleanliness in daily uses

Theory

The following is the basic formula for making all soap:

Fatty acid (oil) + Base (lye) = A Salt (soap)

The oil or fat is heated gently. Lye and water are combined separately. Lye is where
the reacting fat with NaOH will produce a stable soap that will usually become firmer as it
cures. Reacting fat with potassium hydroxide will produce a soap that is either soft or liquid.
Historically, the alkali used was potassium hydroxide made from the ashes of bracken or
from wood ashes.When both ingredients reach the required temperature, they are combined.
When the mixture becomes the desired consistency, it is poured into a mould. The bars are
then removed from the mould after setting up (approximately 24 to 48 hours). They are
restacked and allowed to cure or dry until hard. This can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks
depending on the formula.
A synthetic surfactant, a sodium alkyl sulfate called sodium dodecylsulfate, will be
prepared by reacting dodecyl alcohol (dodecanol) with sulfuric acid.

The resulting dodecylsulfate is converted to the sodium salt by a reaction with sodium
hydroxide.

When detergent is added to water, a polar solvent, the molecules form clusters, known
as micelles, in which the polar ends of the molecules are on the outside of the cluster and the
non-polar ends are in the middle. The cleansing action of soap is determined by its polar and
non-polar structures in conjunction with an application of solubility principles. The long
hydrocarbon chain is of course non-polar and hydrophobic (repelled by water). The "salt" end
of the soap molecule is ionic and hydrophilic (water soluble).
The cleaning action of both soaps and detergents results from their ability to emulsify
or disperse water-insoluble materials (dirt, oil, grease, etc.) and hold them in suspension in
water. This ability comes from the molecular structure of soaps and detergents. When a soap
or detergent is added to water that contains oil or other water-insoluble materials, the soap or
detergent molecules surround the oil droplets.
The oil or grease is dissolved in the alkyl groups of the soap molecules while the
ionic end allows the micelle to dissolve in water. As a result, the oil droplets are dispersed
throughout the water (this is referred to as emulsification) and can be rinsed away.
Soaps are able to clean because they contain natural surfactants (surface acting
compounds). Surfactants are necessary because they counter the effects of normally occurring
surface tension in wash water. In water droplets that do not contain surfactants, the water
molecules are much more attracted to each other than they are to the surrounding air
molecules. This causes the droplets to pull in (or tense) on themselves, creating
comparatively large, rubbery-surfaced spheres.
However, water containing surfactants behaves quite differently. This is because all
surfactant molecules have one end which attracts water molecules (a hydrophilic polar end)
and an opposite end that doesnt (a hydrophobic non-polar end). Therefore, the presence of
these strangely behaving surfactant molecules alters the usual attraction patterns in water
droplets, which would otherwise cause them to pull tightly inward. The lowered surface
tension results in relatively small water droplets having surfaces that are less rubbery. These
smaller droplets can more easily form very thin sheets of water, as in soap bubbles, therefore
more suds are possible. Smaller droplets are also better able to penetrate and lift up dirt
particles as well as keep them in suspension. Finally, smaller droplets permit more thorough
rinsing. All of these factors contribute to better cleaning.

Materials And Apparatus

Erlenmayer flask

Distilled water

Stir and stirring bar

Ice cube

pH meter

6M Sodium hydroxide

Buchner funnel

Ethanol

Filter paper

Saturated Sodium chloride

Beaker

Vegetable oil

Test tubes

Synthetic detergent

Vacuum filtration

1% of Magnesium chloride

Dropper

1% of Calcium chloride

Scapula

1% of Iron chloride

Analytical balance

1M of HCl

Two pieces of cloths

Tomato sauce

Measuring cylinder

Procedure

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 6M sodium hydroxide solution was added to the flask. To mix the
content of the flask the mixture was stirred with stirring bar. The alcohol was
carefully smelt by wafting it towards nose.
2. The 250mL flask was heated in a 600mL boiling water bath.
3. To prevent the mixture from foaming the mixture was stirred continuously during the
heating process. If the mixture should foam to the point of nearly overflowing,
remove the flask from the boiling water bath until the foaming subsides, then continue

heating. The mixture was heated for 20-30 minutes or until the alcohol odour is no
longer detectable.
4. The paste-like mixture was removed from the water bath and the flask was cooled in
an ice bath for 10-15 minutes.
5. The vacuum filtration apparatus was assembled while the flask was cooled. 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 weighing to the nearest 0.001g and the mass was recorded.
The filter paper was placed inside the Buchner funnel. The paper was moistening with
water so that it fits flush in the bottom of the funnel.
7. Once the flask has cooled, 75 mL was added of saturated sodium chloride (NaCl)
solution to the flask to salt out the soap.
8. The water at the aspirator was turned on slowly. The mixture from the flask was
poured into the Buchner funnel. Once all of the liquid has filtered through the funnel,
the soap was washed with 10mL of ice-cold water. The suction filtration was
continued until all of the water is removed from the soap.
9. The soap was removed from the funnel and it was pressed between two paper towels
to dry it. The filter paper was weighed and the soap was dried and the mass to the
nearest 0.001g was recorded and the mass of the soap was determined by difference
and the mass was recorded

Comparison of Soap and Detergent Properties-precipitation and Emulsification

1. A stock soap solution is prepared by dissolving 2 g of the soap that we prepared in

100 mL of boiling, distilled water. The mixture is stirred until the soap has dissolved
and the solution is allowed to cool.
2. Step 1 is repeated using 2 g of synthetic detergent. When both solutions are cool, the
pH of each solution is determined by pH meter.
3. Three test tubes is labelled as test tube 1, 2 and 3. 4 drops of mineral oil is added to
each test tube. 5 mL of distilled water is added to test tube 1. 5 mL of stock soap
solution is added to test tube 2. 5 mL of stock synthetic detergent is added to test tube
3.

4. Each solution is mixed by shaking and let stand for three to five minutes. Note which
of the solutions, if any, emulsifies the oil by forming a single layer.
5. The mixtures are poured into the Waste Container. The three test tubes are cleaned
and dried.
6. Three more test tubes are labelled as test tube 1, 2 and 3. 2 mL of stock soap solution
is placed in each of the three test tubes. 2 mL of 1% CaCl2, solution is added to test
tube 1. 2 mL of 1% MgCl2 solution is added to test tube 2. 2 mL of 1% FeCl2 solution
is added to test tube 3. Each test tube is shaking to mix the solutions. The observations
are recorded.
7. 4 drops of mineral oil is added to each of the test tubes in step 6. Each test tube is
shaking to mix the solutions and the solutions are let stand to three to five minutes. If
any of solutions emulsified the oil by forming a single layer is noted.
8. Steps 6 and 7 are repeated using 2 mL of stock detergent solution.
9. If any of solutions emulsified the oil by forming a single layer is noted.
10. The mixtures are poured into the Waste Container. The test tubes are cleaned and
dried.
11. 5 mL of stock soap solution is placed in cine clean test tube and 5 mL of stock
detergent solution is placed in a second test tube. One drop of 1 M HCl is added at a
time to both solutions until the pH in each test tube is equal to 3. The number of drops
of acid added to each mixture is counted. The precipitates in mixtures are observed.
12. 1 drop of mineral oil is added to each test tube in step 11. Each test tube is shaking to
mix the solution. The oil emulsified in the mixtures is observed.

Comparison of the Cleaning Abilities of Soap and Detergent

1. The two beakers are cleaned, dried, and labelled. 20 mL of stock solution is placed
in first beaker. 20 mL of stock detergent solution is placed in second beaker.
2. Two cloth test strips that are soaked in tomato sauce are obtained and one strip is
placed in each of the beakers. One cloth strip is placed in beaker 1 and one cloth
strip in beaker 2. Each solution is stirred repeatedly with a magnetic stir for 5
minutes.
3. The cloth strip is removed from the soap and detergent solution and the excess water
is squeezed. Each cloth strip is visually compared to determine their relative
cleanliness. The observations are recorded.
9

Results

Soap Preparation
Mass of Filter Paper +

52.0567

Petri Dish,
g
Mass of Filter paper +

83.4953

Petri Dish + Soap, g

Mass of Soap Recovered,

31.4386

Comparison of Soap and Detergent Properties

Mass of Soap, g

2.0128

Mass of Detergent, g

2.0771

pH of Soap Solution

11.54

pH of Synthetic Detergent

8.86

Solution

Answer Yes/No
SYSTEM

EMULSIFICATION OCCURED

Distilled Water

Yes

Soap

No

Detergent

No

10

Hard and Acidic

SYSTEM

PRECIPITATE
Soap

OIL EMULSIFIED

Synthetic

Soap

detergent
CaCl2

Synthetic
detergent

5 drops

2 drops

(White

(No

precipitate)

precipitate)

(White)
MgCl2

(White)

FeCl3

(Peach
orange)

Acidic

Cleaning comparison of Soap and Detergent

ITEM
Soap

Detergent

OBSERVATIONS

There is no stain on the cloth

The water turns to pale brown colour

There is no stain on the cloth

Water remains unchanged in colour

11

Discussion
In our daily lives, we frequently use cleansing products such as soap and detergent.
We use these products to clean our skin and hands wash our clothes without really want to
know how they work or is there any difference between them. Maybe soap and detergent are
perform same action which is cleansing but there are difference between them. Here, we are
conducted this experiment to achieved or study how the soap is prepared and most
importantly the comparison of properties of soap and detergent. We know that soap and
detergent are used as cleaning agent in our everyday lives. These products are sodium salts of
organic acids. They are special organic acids that have long chain hydrocarbons with
hydroxyl groups. These types of acids are also called fatty acids.
Before we compare the properties of soap and detergent, we look first how to prepare
the soap. A more basic explanation is the oil or fats combine with Sodium Hydroxide or
Lye in a process called saponification to produce soap. The vegetable oil had been mixed
with some amount of ethanol which an acid and 6M of NaOH solution as a base. The mixture
will undergoes heating process until the alcohol odour is no longer detectable. Then, the
mixture had been cooled and the vacuum filtration apparatus was prepared, the saturated HCl
was added to the flask. Next, the mixture was poured into the Buchner funnel until the liquid
is removed from the soap. The soap was taken out then dried it. The dried soap which had
been prepared can be weighed in order to know the mass.
In this experiment, we determined the differences properties between soap and
detergent in term of precipitation, emulsification, behaviour in acidic condition, and also
cleaning ability. For part one, we compare the soap and detergent with distilled water to
emulsification properties. This shows that only detergent produce clear solution compared to
soap and distilled water. Here, we know that detergent more effectiveness that soap in
emulsification condition. This result can be explain because the molecule of soap contain
hydrophilic ion which dissolved in water while another one is hydrophobic ion which
dissolved in oil or grease. Distilled water is polar molecule thus it cannot dissolve in oil or
grease.
For the next part, we want to determine the properties of soap and detergent in hard
water and acid condition. As we can see in the result, the soap form a precipitate when react
with water that contain mineral salts while the detergent not form the precipitate. Moreover,
12

the emulsion occurred when the detergent reacts with mineral salts except for Fe+ and no
emulsion occurred for soap. This show that the soap reaction gives effect with water hardness
but the detergent reaction is not affected. Although soap is good cleaning agent, its
effectiveness is decrease when used in hard water. Hardness water caused by the presence of
mineral salts such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) and also manganese
(Mn). The mineral salts reacts with soap to foam an insoluble precipitate known as soap film
or scum. Water hardness give a problem for soap to react and the effectiveness of cleanliness
are low compare with the detergent. The most important difference between a soap and
detergent is their behaviour in water. The soap will form a scum in hard water, which are not
easy to clean. So, to avoid the scum problem we need to soften the hard water by removing
the hard water ions. This way we had known as ion exchange technique. On the other hand,
detergent react less to minerals in water hence does not leave this residue or scum.
Then, we compare the acidic behaviour of the soap and detergent. We can say that
soap is more alkaline than detergent. Soap has a high pH value than detergent. It is
becausewhen we conducted the experiment for this part, we only used 6 drops of HCl to add
to the detergent solution will make the solution become to pH nearest to 3. However, the soap
needs about 10 drops to turn the pH of solution to pH nearest to 3.
Last part, we want to determine the cleaning action of the stock soap solution and
stock detergent solution with the cloths that were soaked into tomato sauce. The stock of two
solutions is placed into two difference beakers and then the two strips of cloth that soaked
with tomato sauce are put into each of the beaker. After three or five minutes, we can see that
the strips that soak in stock detergent solution are making the strip become very clean and the
follow by the stock soap solution. The strip that soak in stock soap solution are also clean but
not clean as detergent and we also can see that the red colour of tomato sauce are still occur
on the strip and water. Therefore, we can conclude that detergent is more effectively
cleansing that soap. This can be explaining by the soap solution was salt weak acid. It works
towards dirt as a wetting agent that reduced the surface tension of water, allowing the water
molecules to encounter the dirty object. Water is a polar species, and dirt frequently is a nonpolar species. These to substance will dissolve each other. Synthetics detergent was made to
encounter the weakness of soap that is can dissolve in polar and non-polar solution.

13

CONCLUSION
Our experiment is successfully. From this experiment and all results that we get, we
can conclude that detergent is effective compare to the soap. We can compare the properties
of soap and detergent and we also can compare the advantages and disadvantages of using
soap and detergent in our daily lives by doing this experiment. Soap may perform precipitate
or oil emulsified towards certain condition. Then, we also know that the water hardness give
a problem for soap to react and the level of cleanliness are low compare to detergent. Soap is
more alkaline compare to the detergent. So, it may not be as effective as synthetic detergent.
Moreover, in cleansing action, soaps have weak action in cleaning the cloth compare to
detergent. Therefore, from what we observes and results that we get from this experiment, we
can conclude that detergent is more effective than the soap.
However, during us conducting this experiment, a few errors or an improper
behaviour maybe occurred. So, to get more accurate results, we should observe the changing
of solution or results carefully. Besides, we can obtain the good result by repeat this
experiment twice and clean up the apparatus that have been used nicely. In addition, this
experiment needs to use a lot of test tubes to test and observe on different properties of soap
and detergent solution. Thus, we should used different test tubes if the lab has enough test
tubes because this can avoid the inaccurate results. This is because when we used the same
test tube doing this experiment, the residue that have in test tube maybe can affect the results
and observations of experiment.

RECOMMENDATIONS

There are a few recommendations that indicate how experimental techniques or

apparatus could be improved in light of the conclusion arrived at and the consistency of the
experimental results in relation to the theory. In this experiment, there was a step where both
of the soap solution and detergent solution need to be determined the value of pH. We have
improved the way to read the value of pH. We use the pH meter than using the indicators
14

because pH meter is more accurately, suitable and easy to use. When we want to know the
equivalence point in this experiment, so if we use the old way by using the indicator there is
difficult to observer to get the accurate value by observe the change of the colour. Besides
that, in order to get the accurate value of pH, both solution need to be cool before the pH
value is determined. It is because the value of pH of the solution when warm is not constant
and the values when warm and cool were different.
Next, we can improve the way we stirred the solution. We use magnetic stirrer than
the glass rod because it is more efficient. The solution will take the short time to mix and
become homogeneous. Besides that, when we want to stir the soap and detergent solution
using the analytic balance maybe we can split out some of the solutions. So, we must to
careful with the speed of the magnetic stirrer for mix the solutions.
Other than that, there was also as step that the observer must take the number of drops
of the chemical reagent. So that, the observer must count the number of drop the used of the
chemical reagent as the solution had finish the reactant. The observer also must alert with the
pH when drop the acids. To avoid the big deviate pH value, drop the acids slowly.

REFERENCES

UiTMChemisty Engineering, Lab Manual Experiment 6, Soap And

Detergent
http://www.wikipedia.com/soap.htm
http://chemistry.caltech.edu/courses/ch15/soap
http://chemistry.caltech.edu/courses/ch15/detergent
http://www.cleaning101.com/sdalatest/html/soapchemistry1.htm

15

APPENDICES

16