Camapgnola Farms

A Short History on Soaps

Written by Mary “Campagnola”

What is Soap? 

 

     A “soap” is a substance that has the ability to remove dirt, grease and grime  from the surface of a solid.  Soaps can do this because they are able to break the contact between dirt molecules and the solids they’ve attached themselves to.  Soap molecules have a top (head)  and bottom (tail)  The “tail” will attach itself to dirt, forming a tight bond with dirt molecules.  When rinsed with more water, the head is attracted to water molecules, and it takes the tail and the dirt molecule with it as it follows the water down the drain. 

     And how is this lovely material created, you may ask.  Well, take a look at a normal bacon & egg breakfast.  That greasy slimy gunk remaining at the bottom of the frying pan?  Well, if you add some wood ash & water to it, boil it until it thickens up,  you’ll eventually create a type of soap.  Yes, a foul smelling gooey slop, but still the basis of all soaps out there today.  The recipes have been refined, and the quality of the ingredients have improved, but soap basically remains the same: 

 

· FAT

· LYE

· WATER 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tails of soap molecules attach themselves firmly to grease/dirt molecules. 

Eventually the soap molecules surrounds the dirt, lifting it up off the surface.  Rinse with water and the heads will follow the water taking their tails and the dirt molecules with them. 

The Heads Love Water.                    The Tails HATE water.