Experiment #2: Quantitative Preparation of Soap

Tiana Stewart

SCH 111 06 Quantitative Analysis Lab I

Thursday, September 13, 2018

I. TITLE:
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Quantitative Preparation of Soap

II. OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of the second experiment are to quantitatively prepare soap, and in doing

so, apply and become proficient in the use of suction filtration. Furthermore, to prepare a salt

solution that is saturated, as well as grasp and become acquainted with the Green Chemistry

Principles.

III. THEORY:

The operation of saponification will be implemented, creating a chemical reaction

between the triglycerides and sodium hydroxide which are necessary to generate the

manufacturing of fatty acid NaCl (salt) and glycerol otherwise known as soap. The chemical

reaction is represented by the following equation:

O
II
H2C- O - C - (CH2)14CH3
I O H2C - OH
II Heat I
HC -O - C - (CH2)14CH3 + 3NaOH HC - OH + NaO - C(CH2)14CH3
I O I
II H2C - OH
H2C - O- C - (CH2)CH3

*Represents Fat/ Oil *Represents Ethanol *Represents water *Soap

Triglycerides (Solvent Used) soluble glycerol

There are certain techniques required for carrying out a successful preparation of soap. It

is imperative that stirring rods- operated with gloved hands- are used while being held at an

angle in order to ensure for the neat and accurate pouring of liquids. Later on in the procedure, a

hot water bath consisting of a 600mL beaker will be implemented in order to form the soap mass,
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and safety measures will need to be followed to prevent burns and injury. Gloves must be worn

throughout the procedure, as well as safety goggles and a lab coat. During the pouring of liquids,

white trays are used to control the event of a spillage. When dealing with heated equipment,

handles are to be used to prevent direct contact with the hot object. Lastly, while carrying out

suction filtration, the aspirators are not to be released, so as to not overflow other areas, instead

the suction tube is to be removed at the filter flask.

Upon completion of this experiment, we will have familiarized ourselves with the 12

Green Principles of Chemistry and will be able to apply the concepts that match this experiment.

The mission of Green Chemistry is to advocate unprecedented chemical technologies that lessen

or extinguish the production or use of harmful material in the utilization, blueprint, and

fabrication of chemical creations.

IV. PROCEDURE:

To allow for a successful product, gloves, safety goggles, and a lab coat were worn

throughout the entire experiment. Before any weighting occurred, the balance provided was set

to 0g. Using gloved hands, the Erlenmeyer flask was placed on top of the top- loader balance, the

mass of the flask having been 112.8g was then recorded. Using gloved hands, a graduated

cylinder was placed into a white tray to prevent spillage. 10 mL of corn oil was poured into the

graduated cylinder using gloved hands and a stirring rod, held at an angle. With gloved hands,

the corn oil inside of the graduated cylinder was poured, using a stirring rod into the 250 mL

Erlenmeyer flask. The mass of the flask with the oil inside was weighed and recorded to 121.5g.

Using gloved hands, 10 mL of ethanol was added to the flask (ethyl alcohol). Using gloved

hands, 10 mL of 25% NaOH (sodium hydroxide) was added to the flask. The mixture in the

Erlenmeyer flask consisting of 10 mL corn oil, 10 mL ethanol and 10 mL of 25% NaOH was
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stirred with a stirring rod using gloved hands. The mixture was a light, opaque, yellow, with

bubbles allowing to make out the separation from the oil. Bubbles settled once mixing stopped.

With gloved hands, a handle was made from a clamp, while the Erlenmeyer flask was still

stirred. A hot plate was plugged in, turned on, and set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using the

handle, the Erlenmeyer flask was set into the handle fixture. A 600 mL beaker was filled with

250 mL of tap water using gloved hands. Three boiling chips, using gloved hands, were placed

into the beaker, to prevent the eventual boiling water from splashing to the surface. The 600 mL

beaker was placed onto the hot plate using gloved hands. Once the 250 mL of water began to

boil, using gloved hands, the Erlenmeyer flask in the handle was lowered into the hot water bath

of the 250 mL of water in the 600 mL beaker on the hot plate. The mixture in the Erlenmeyer

flask was stirred using a stirring rod and gloved hands. As mixture got hotter, color became a

lighter, pasty, yellow and a mass began to clump together. Once a faded, yellow mass formed

after 20 minutes of stirring and heating, using gloved hands, the Erlenmeyer flask was lifted

from the hot bath using the handle and unscrewed from the clamps. Using the handle, with

gloved hands, the Erlenmeyer flask was placed into the ice bath, mass was faded yellow before

ice bath. Using gloved hands, salt (NaCl) was poured up to the 10 mL mark in a 50 mL beaker.

40 mL of distilled water was poured into the 50 mL beaker in order to create 50 mL of a

saturated NaCl solution. After 10 minutes of cooling, the Erlenmeyer flask was removed from

the ice bath using gloved hands, and removed from the handle. The mixture color was more

faded after ice bath, closer to white than yellow. Using gloved hands, the 50 mL of saturated

NaCl solution was poured into the Erlenmeyer flask, causing soap to float to the top of the

mixture. To precipitate the soap, the solution, and the mixture were stirred using gloved hands

and a stirring rod. Suction filtration was then set up using a Buchner funnel, in order to filter the
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more heavy and bunched up soap from the flowy NaCl solution. The then bumpy, and easily

molded soap was separated from the funnel using gloved hands and set on a watch glass for

storage.

V. DATA:

Oil Type Corn Oil

Molecular Weight 861g/mol

Mass of Empty Flask 112.8g

(g)

Mass of Flask + Oil (g) 121.5g

Mass of Oil (g) 8.7g

Mass of Soap (g) 13.9g

VI. CALCULATIONS:

1 fat + 3NaOH 3 Soap + 1 glycerol

(excess)

Mass of flask - Mass of (flask + oil) = Mass of oil (g) 121.5g - 112.8g = 8.7g of oil

Massof Oil( g) 1 mol

Theoretical Yield = x
1 MM of oil
8.7 g oil 1mol
Theoretical Yield = x = .0101045296 = .01g oil theoretical
1 861 g /mol

Soap: 1 mol oil→ 3 mol soap

1 mol soap = 300g

8.7 g corn oil 1 mol corn oil 3 mol soap 300 g soap
x x x = 9.09g soap theoretical
1 861 g corn oil 1mol corn oil 1 mol soap

8.7 g corn oil 1 mol corn oil 1mol corn oil 92 g glycerol
x x x = .93g glycerol theoretical
1 861 g corn oil 1mol corn oil 1mol glycerol

Total Theoretical = Soap + Glycerol

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= 9.09g soap + .93g glycerol

= 10.02g total theoretical

Actual Yield
Percent Yield of Soap = Theoretical Yield x 100%
13.9 g actual yield
= x 100% = 138.72% yield of soap
10.02 g theoretical yield

VII. DISCUSSION:

The percent yield of my quantitative preparation of soap was 138.72%. Overall, my

results were OK, the soap did not crumble to pieces, yet it was a bit dry because of the percent

yield of my soap. The most likely source of error came from overuse of NaOH in the solution.

All natural substances were used, along with 3NaOH. I enjoyed making a solid out of liquid

substances, especially making a product that I use everyday. Sometimes the products that we

have so easily at our disposal are taken for granted so it was really interesting to actually make it

for myself. To improve the experiment it would be nice if everyone had their own mold for the

soap as well as a sort of wrapping paper or container to actually take it home with in order to use

the soap or to preserve it. In the end, I learned how to pour substances using a stirring rod, what

it means to conduct an experiment using the Green Chemistry principles, as well as how to make

salt solutions that were saturated. Of the 12 Green principles, the main ones that applied to this

experiment were; the use of products that will degrade after use, less hazardous chemical

synthesis, waste was prevented not having to clean anything up or separated from being drained

with regular water, safer chemicals and products were used with little toxicity, and lastly, atom

economy was maximized with the transfer of fats into the soap, there were few wasted atoms.