Class 6 Chemistry practical experiment: Saponification Reaction

Theory:
Oil or fat when treated with sodium hydroxide solution, gets converted into sodium salt of fatty acid (soap) and glycerol. This reaction is known as saponification.
Materials required:
Sodium hydroxide, vegetable oil such as castor/ coconut oil (25 mL), common salt (about 10 g), beakers (50 mL), test tubes
Procedure:
• Take about 10 mL of coconut oil in a beaker
• Add 15 mL of sodium hydroxide in the beaker (It is exothermic reaction)
• Add 5 g of common salt to this mixture and using a glass rod to stir the mixture continuously till the soap begins to set.
• Leave it for a day till the mixture cools and becomes solid.
• Filter the mixture to separate out the soap
• Remove the soap cake and cut it into desired shapes and sizes
Conclusion:
Heat is liberated during saponification