The cleaning product soap consists of a hydrocarbon chain. The length of the hydrocarbon chain ("n") varies with the type of fat or oil but is usually quite long. Positively charged potassium or sodium balances the anionic charge on the carboxylate head. Saponification is a proces where triglycerides in fat or oils are heated in the presence of a strong alkali base such as sodium hydroxide, producing three molecules of soap for every molecule of glycerol in the making of soap.
Since soaps are "surface active," they make water better at cleaning surfaces. Since water molecules general prefer to stay together rather than to wet other surfaces, surfactants in detergents reduce the tension of water. This allows the water molecules to wet surfaces better, while at the same time increasing its ability to dissolve dirt and oil stains. The chemical process is: CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 COO − or CH 3 (CH 2 ) n COO −
There are four ways to make soap: cold process, hot process, room temperature, melt and pour, or glycerin-whipped bar soap. The cold process method is usually practiced by beginner soap makers. You melt the hard and soft oils together before blending in a lye solution, where the mixture must be brought to similar temperatures around 90 degrees. After mixing the mixture, it is poured into a mold.
Information and images from http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/how-to-make-soap.html#.VW1GYM9VhBc and http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Ru-Sp/Soap.html
