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by Jessica McBrayer
Topics: Middle School, Arts and Crafts
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  • The process of oil and lye ( sodium hydroxide ) turning into soap is called saponification.
  • Ashes contain potassium hydroxide which makes soap much softer.  They often would have pieces of fat in their soap as well.  Because they would use what they had on hand, soap-making was not an exact science, making the soap very harsh and somewhat unpleasant. 
  • Today soap is often made with vegetable oils.  One of the most sought after soaps is olive oil soap. 
  • Lye is a strong acid but it becomes something very mild as it reacts with the water and oil and cures to become soap.
  • The discovery of soap was accidental.  A mix of animal fats with ashes mixed with water and caused an observer in the early Roman empire to notice a foaming action.
  • It is also thought that animal fats and ashes would mix with water during the temple cleaning after ritual sacrifices. This solution of ash, fat and water would run down the hill into the river. The wash that was done downstream of the temple resulted in cleaner clothes. The Romans attributed this as the discovery of soap. The Celts also claim they discovered soap.  In reality they probably both probably stumbled onto the same discovery independently.