Chemistry

Investigatory
Project
By-Yash G.Desai
12th A

Certificate
This is to Certify that Master YASH G.DESAI of Class
Twelve has successfully completed his Investigatory
Project in Chemistry for All India Senior School Certificate
Examination (AISSCE) 2016 on the topic Study of Foaming
Capacity Of Soaps under my guidance.
Boards Roll No. 4637457
Date of Submission
Sign of Internal Examiner
Sign of External Examiner
Sign of the Principal

Acknowledgement
I sincerely thank my Chemistry Teacher and Head
of the Chemistry Dept. Mr. S.K.Paul, who stayed
long hours after school to help us. Without his
support and guidance this project wouldnt have
been completed. I thank him for providing us with
his laboratory and amenities.
I would also like to thank our Principal Mr. ANIL
MOHAN for giving us an opportunity to do this
project.

Foaming
Capacity
Of Soaps

Contents
Introduction
Aim of the Experiment
Materials Required
Theory
Details of Procedure
Observations
Conclusion
Bibliography

Introduction
What is soap?

Soapis asaltof afatty acid.Soaps are mainly used as

surfactantsforwashing, bathing, andcleaning, in textile spinning and are
important components oflubricants.

How are soaps made?

Soaps for cleansing are obtained by treating vegetable or animal oils and
fats with a stronglyalkaline solution. Fats and oils are composed of
triglycerides; three molecules of fatty acids are attached to a single
molecule ofglycerol.
The alkaline solution brings about achemical reactionknown
assaponification. In saponification, the fats are first hydrolyzed into free
fatty acids, which then combine with the alkali to form crude soap.
Glycerol (glycerin) is liberated and is either left in or washed out and
recovered as a useful byproduct.

Cleansing Action of Soap

The cleansing action of soap is determined by its polar and non-polar

structures. The long hydrocarbon chain is non-polar and hydrophobic
(repelled by water). The "salt" end of the soap molecule is ionic and
hydrophilic (water soluble).
When soap is added to water, the ionic-salt end of the molecule is
attracted to water and dissolved in it. The non-polar hydrocarbon end of
the soap molecule is repelled by water. When grease or oil (non-polar
hydrocarbons) are mixed with a soap- water solution, the soap molecules
work as a "bridge" between polar water molecules and non-polar oil
molecules.
The oil is a pure hydrocarbon so it is non-polar. The non-polar hydrocarbon
tail of the soap dissolves into the oil. That leaves the polar part of the
soap molecules sticking out of the oil droplets, the surface of each oil
droplet being negatively charged. As a result, the oil droplets repel each
other and remain suspended in solution. This is called an emulsion. It is
then washed away by a stream of water. The outside of the droplet is also
coated with a layer of water

Illustration

Oil

Hard water

Hard wateriswaterthat has high mineral content (in contrast with

"softwater").Hard wateris formed when waterpercolates through
deposits of limestone and chalk which are largely made up of calcium and
magnesium carbonates.

Effect of soap on Hard water

When soap is added to hard water (water that contains calcium Ca 2+ and
magnesium Mg2+ ions), insoluble compounds are formed which appear as a
sticky scum. This scum leaves a deposit on clothes, skin, and hair. When
boiled, hard water leaves a deposit of calcium carbonate, CaCO 3.
Calcium and magnesium ions react with Na2CO3 to produce insoluble
carbonates of higher fatty acids.
2C17H35COONa + Ca2+
(Water soluble)

2C17H35COONa + Mg2+

(C17H35COO)2Ca + 2Na+
(ppt)

(C17H35COO)2Mg + 2Na+

Aim of the Experiment

To compare the foaming capacities of five different commercial soaps, and

thus rate them according to the amount of foam they produce.

Materials Required

5 test tubes
5 conical flasks (100 ml)
Test tube stand
Bunsen burner
Stop watch.
Burette and Titration Stand
5 different samples of soap and distilled water

Theory
The foaming capacity of a soap sample depends upon the nature of soap and
its concentration. This can be compared for various samples of soaps by
taking the same concentration of solution and shaking them.
The foam is formed and the time taken for disappearances of foam in all
cases is compared. The lesser the time taken by a solution for the
disappearance of foam, the lower is its foaming capacity.

Procedure

Five conical flasks (100 ml each) are taken and numbered 1 to 5.

In each of these flasks equal amounts (say 5 gm) of the given samples of
soap shavings or granules are taken and 50 ml of distilled water is added.
Each conical flask is heated few minutes to dissolve all the soap
completely.
In a test-tube stand, five big clean and dry test tubes are taken and
numbered 1 to 5
(continue)

One ml of the five soap solution is then poured in the test tubes of
corresponding number.
10 ml. of distilled water is then added to each test tube.
Test tube no 1 is then shaken vigorously 5 times.
The foam would be formed in the empty space above the container. Stop
watch is started immediately and the time taken for the disappearance of
foam is noted.
Similarly the other test tubes are shaken vigorously for equal number of
times (i.e., 5 times) with approximately with the same force and the time
taken for the disappearance of foam in each case is recorded.

Observation

Amount of each soap sample taken = 1 gm

Amount of distilled water taken = 25 ml
Volume of each soap solution taken = 1 ml
Volume of distilled water added = 10 ml
(continue)

Observation table
Sr. No.

Soap Sample

Time taken
(seconds)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Conclusion

The soap for which the time taken for the disappearance of foam is
highest has maximum foaming capacity and is the best quality soap among
the soaps tested.
The highest time taken for the disappearance of soap is:
Name of the soap :

Bibliography
Comprehensive practical Chemistry- Class12.
Study of Soaps bywww.niton.com
www.icbse.com
Wikipedia