What are the essential elements of soap?

sequoianoir

To make a soap you start with beef fat. Steaming this will produce tallow and several fats, one of which is glyceryl tristearate. This tri-glyceride contains three stearic acid molecules attached to a glycerine molecule. Then boil the glyceryl tristearate in sodium hydroxide. This will produce sodium stearate and glycerine. When you remove the glycerine, you get soap !! Sodium Stearate. Without this you do not have soap. Perfume and colouring may be added. Jan 29 04, 6:34 PM

DogRL

Sequoianoir, can't you see I'm in a bit of a lather right now and I won't have a bar of it, didn't you say you verified the answer? http://members.aol.com/oelaineo/blender.html Here's the procedure:(one-pound batches only). Use liquid fat at room temperature. Heat solid fats only until melted. Dissolve the lye in cold water and wait until the mixture turns clear. Put all ingredients into the blender (lye/water, fragrance--everything). Lock the blender in position, *secure the cover* and process at the lowest speed. Stop the blender and check the soap often to watch for a thin-trace stage. When you stop the blender, wait a few seconds before removing the cover. Sometimes the soap "burps" when it stops (as a large amount of trapped air comes to the top). At the thin trace stage, stop the blender. Stir the soap to check for tracing and to allow bubbles to escape. Pour the soap into individual molds. That's all there is to it! Jan 29 04, 6:35 PM