Soaps are salts of fatty acids. In general, it can be obtained by treating plant-based oils or animal fats with a strongly alkaline solution.
Quick science class revision.
Fats and oils are composed of triglycerides. This means that 3 molecules of fatty acids are attached to a single molecule of glycerol (alcohol).
The alkaline solution, often sodium hydroxide or commonly called lye, brings about the chemical reaction known as saponification.
In saponification, the fats are first hydrolysed and will liberate the fatty acid chains. The free fatty acids would then react with lye to form soap.
Glycerol, or often called glycerin(e) is liberated during soap making. This precious humectant is either retained in handmade soaps or washed out and recovered as a useful by product in commercial soap making.
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