In: Chemistry
Considering the pH of your soap, what do you think would happen if you left your soap exposed to air? Explain.
Soap is sodium salt of fatty acid, it hydrolyses water which is present as moisture in air, as a result sodium hydroxide and carboxylic acid is produced, hence soap is basic in nature.
The sodium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide to produce sodium carbonate
Rcoo-Na+ + H2O RcooH + NaOH
NaOH + CO2 Na2CO3
The double bond present in fatty acid under goes oxidation giving diols which is called rancidification