C2H5OH

CH2OH

Ethyl Alcohol

(Monohydric)

CH2OH

C2H4(OH)2
OR

Glycol (Dihydric)

CH2OH

CH2OH

OR

C3H5(OH)3

CH2OH
Glycerol (Trihydric)

Glycerol is a trihydric alcohol with three

hydroxyl groups. Carboxylic (or alkanoic)
acids are the organic compounds containing

carboxyl
(COOH)
group.
They
are
represented by the general formula RCOOH.
Aliphatic monocarboxylic acids (containing
one carboxyl group) are known as fatty acids
because some of their higher members with
long hydrocarbon chains are obtained from
oils and fats. Members of family of carboxylic
acids in which R contains 15 or more carbon
atoms are known as higher fatty acids. Some
common higher fatty acids are:
C15H31COOH
C17H35COOH
(Palmitic acid)
(Stearic acid)

C17H35COOH
(Oleic acid)

Oils and fats are the triesters of glycerol

with various long chain organic acids, both
saturated and unsaturated.
These triesters are usually known as
glycerides. Oils are liquids at ordinary
temperatures while fats are solids.

The glycerides constituting oils contain a

larger proportion of unsaturated acids, such
as oleic acid (C17H33COOH), linoleic acid
(C17H31COOH), etc., while the glycerides
forming the fats contain a larger proportion
of saturated acids, such as auric acid
(C11H23COOH), meristic acid (C13H27COOH),
palmitic acid (C15H31COOH) and stearic acid
(C17H35COOH).
The glycerides are named according to
the acid radical present in them. For
instance, the glyceride containing stearic
acid radical is called stearin or tristearin and
the one containing the palmitic acid radical is
named as palmitic or tripalmitin.

CH2OOCC17H35
CH2OOCC15H31

CHOOCC17H35
CHOOCC15H31

CH2OOCC17H35
CH2OOCC15H31
(Stearin or triesterin)
(Palmitic or tripalmitin)
Usually more than one acid radical is present
in the same glyceride. These are called
mixed glycerides. The naturally occurring oils
and fats are generally mixtures of such
mixed glycerides.

For instance:

CH2OOCC17H35
CH2OOCC15H31

CHOOCC15H31
CHOOCC17H35

CH2OOCC17H35
CH2OOCC17H35
(Oleo-palmitic-stearin)
(Palmate-distrain)
CH2OOCC17H35

CHOOCC15H31

CH2OOCC15H31
(Stearo-dipalmitin)
WHAT ARE SOAPS?

Soaps are mixtures of sodium or

salts of higher fatty acids such
acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid.
usually obtained by the hydrolysis
fats with sodium or potassium
(alkali hydrolysis).

potassium
as stearic
They are
of oils and
hydroxide

For example,
CH2OOCC15H31
2C15H31COONa

palmitate)
CHOOCC15H31
CHOH

CH2OOCC17H35
C17H35COONa

CH2OH

(Sodium

NaOH

CH2OH

(Dipalmito-stearin) (Sodium Stearate) (Oil or

fat)
(Soap)
The alkali hydrolysis of oil and fat is known
as Saponification.

The sodium soaps are generally hard in

consistency and are known as Hard Soaps.
The potassium soaps, on the other hand, are
comparatively soft and more soluble and are
referred to as Soft Soaps. Shaving creams,
vanishing creams, shampoos, etc., are all
potassium soaps.

Observation:

PRECAUTION:
Caustic soda is very corrosive and should
not, therefore, be touched with bare hands

COMPARISON OF THE FOAMING CAPACITIES

OF THE TWO SOAP SAMPLES:

1. Take 0.1g of each soap sample in two test

tubes numbered as 1 and 2.
2. Add 5ml of distilled water in each test tube
and shake them vigorously for

2-3 minutes

preferably in a shaker.
3. Place the test tubes in a test tube stand and
start the stop watch.
4. Note the time when the foam in each of the
tubes disappears.
Foaming capacity of that soap sample will
be greater in which case it takes longer
time to disappear.