In the Soap-Making Student Laboratory Kit, students use old-time recipes and hydrolyze several commonly used oils to obtain a “homemade” soap sample. They then test the “homemade” soap sample along with a commercial soap sample.
In this activity, students will use old-time soap-making recipes and hydrolyze several commonly used oils to obtain a “homemade” soap sample. They then test the “homemade” soap sample along with a commercial soap sample to determine pH, lathering ability, behavior in hard water and ability to cut through grease. Includes reproducible student handouts, detailed background information, Teacher Notes with sample data and answers to questions and all chemicals needed to perform the lab.
Complete for 30 students working in pairs.
Correlation to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Science & Engineering Practices
Planning and carrying out investigations
Disciplinary Core Ideas
MS-PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter HS-PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
Crosscutting Concepts
Cause and effect
Performance Expectations
MS-PS1-3. Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.