Stoichiometry – Soap Making/Saponification

Materials:
 Molds (Empty mineral water bottle, Plastic Tubes, Loaf pan or any mold that will create
creative shapes).
 Wooden Spoon/Hand Blender
 Measuring Cups/Plastic Cups
 Rubber gloves and face mask
 Plastic or ceramic bowl (Approximately 2L capacity)
 1 Liter Coconut oil/ Any animal or vegetable oil
 200g can Solid NaOH/Lye (Available in hardware/supermarket worth Php 50).
 Thermometer and pH paper
 Hotplate
 500 mL mineral/Soft water
 Coloring (crayons or clay coloring), nuts, oatmeal, petals, seeds and essential oils for
fragrance, Carrot oil, Vitamin A, E and C, which can help prevent spoilage.

Procedures
1. Prepare the following: Molds (Empty mineral water bottle, Plastic Tubes, Loaf pan or any
mold that will create creative shapes).
2. Heat 1L of oils and fats, then we wait till everything melts, monitor the temperature up to
37 to 40 Co.
3. Put on your rubber or latex gloves and face mask. Carefully dissolve 182 grams of NaOH
in 364 mL H20. Note: NaOH to water not water to NaOH and pour the lye slowly to the
water. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Stir long enough for the water to be almost clear
again.
4. Once the oils and fats have melted, maintain the temperature to 37 Co to 40 Co, remove the
oil in the hotplate then pour the lye slowly to the oil. Mix completely using a power stick
blender or a wooden spoon.
5. Notice for a trace. Trace is when your oil and lye are mixed and it starts to thicken up. Pour
some soap mixture off, coloring (crayons or clay coloring), nuts, oatmeal, petals, sees and
essential oils for fragrance. Use natural preservatives to avoid rancidity and spoilage to
occur. (Carrot oil, Vitamin E oil, and Grapefruit Seed Extract and anti-oxidants such as
vitamin A, E and C, which can help prevent spoilage.)
6. Pour the soap into your choice of soap making molds. From PVC pipe to elegant
decorative shapes, there is a large variety of molds to choose from. A wooden loaf mold is
nice, and then cut it into bars after it hardens but use your own creativity
7. Cover the mold with its lid (or a piece of cardboard) and then wrap it with towels, About
6-8 towels you want to make sure that no heat can escape, as this is essential for the initial
curing process. Wrapping in towel, or placing in a warmed oven, will ensure “full gel”.
Now leave the soap for about 18-36 hours depending on the ingredient used.
8. Testing your soap for proper pH level. You can test your soap for excess lye by applying a
few drops of Phenolphthalein, a colorless, clear liquid. This Chemical will turn pink for
fuchsia in the presence of an alkali or an excess of lye. Soap that is to be used on the skin
should be in the range of 7 to 9.0.