INTRODUCTION

Soap is an essential cleaning agent used in daily life for personal hygiene and
household purposes. It functions effectively due to its surfactant properties,
allowing it to emulsify oils and trap dirt, which can then be rinsed away with
water. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acids like stearic,
palmitic, and oleic acids can be either saturated or unsaturated. They contain
a long hydrocarbon chain of about 10-20 carbon with one carboxylic acid
group as the functional group. A soap molecule is a tadpole shaped structure,
whose ends have different polarities. At one end is the long hydrocarbon
chain that is non-polar and hydrophobic, i.e., insoluble in water but oil
soluble. At the other end is the short polar carboxylate ion which is
hydrophilic i.e., water soluble but insoluble in oil and grease.

The ability of soap to produce foam is a key factor in its cleaning performance,
as foam helps to spread soap molecules across surfaces and lift away
impurities. However, the foaming capacity of soap can be influenced by
various factors, including the chemical composition of the soap solution,
water hardness, and pH levels. The long non-polar end of a soap molecule,
which is hydrophobic, gravitates towards and surrounds dirt (fat or oil with
dust absorbed in it). The short polar end, containing the carboxylate ion, faces
the water away from the dirt. A number of soap molecules surround or
encircle dirt and grease in a clustered structure called micelles, which
encircles such particles and emulsifies them.
 THEORY

Calcium and Magnesium ions present in hard water interfere in the foaming
capacity of soap. These ions combine with soap and form insoluble calcium and
magnesium salt which get precipitated.

These insoluble salts reduce the number of soap molecules available for
forming micelles and foam, thereby diminishing the soap’s cleansing and
foaming abilities in hard water.

This hardness can be removed by addition of Sodium Carbonate:

 EXPERIMENT – 1

AIM:
To compare the foaming capacities of five different soaps.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 5 test tubes
 5 conical flasks(100ml)
 Test tube stand
 Bunsen burner and
 Stop watch

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
5 different samples of soap and distilled water

THEORY:
The foaming capacity of the soap sample depends upon the
nature of the 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 the disappearance of
foam in all cases is compared. The less the time taken by solution for
the disappearance of foam, the lower its foaming capacity.
PROCEDURE:
 Five conical flask (100 ml each) are taken and numbered 1 to 5
 In each of these flasks, an equal amount (say 5 gm) of the given
samples of soap shavings or granules is taken, and 50 ml of
distilled water is added.
 Each conical flask is heated for a 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
 One ml of the five soap solutions is then poured into the test
tubes of the corresponding number
 10ml 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 the stopwatch is started immediately and the
time taken for the disappearance is noted
  Similarly, the other test tubes are shaken well for an equal
number of times (i.e., times) with approximately the same force,
and the time taken for the foam to disappear in each case is
recorded.
 The less time taken for the disappearance of foam, the lower its
foaming capacity.

OBSERVATION:

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.
 EXPERIMENT – 2

AIM:
Study the effect of the addition of Sodium Carbonate (Washing
Soda) on the foaming capacity of different soap solutions.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 3 test tubes
 Test tube stand
 Bunsen burner
 Stop watch

CHEMICAL REQUIRED:
 5 gm sample of soap
 Tap water
 M/10 Na2CO3 solution.

THEORY:
When sodium or potassium soaps are put into water containing
calcium and magnesium ions (Hard water), it results in the formation
of scum which applies a grey appearance to the cloth. More soap
must be added to achieve the same washing or cleaning action.
Hard-water is water that has high mineral content (mainly calcium
and magnesium ions) (in contrast with soft water). Hard water
minerals primarily consist of calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+)
metal cations, and sometimes other dissolved compounds such as
bicarbonates and sulphates. Calcium usually enters the water as
either calcium carbonate (CaCO3), in the form of limestone and
chalk, or calcium sulphate (CaSO4), in the form of other mineral
deposits. When Na2CO3 is added to tap water, the calcium (Ca2+)
and magnesium (Mg2+) ions precipitate as their carbonates. i.e.
foaming capacity of soap increases.

PROCEDURE:
 Then 5 ml of water is added to the three test tubes
 Now shake first test tube for formation of foam
 Now start the stopwatch to calculate the time taken for the
disappearance of foam.
 Similarly, perform the experiment with other soap solutions.
Record the observations in a tabular form.

OBSERVATION:
 Amount of each soap sample taken = 5 gm
 Amount of tap water taken = 50 ml
 Volume of each soap solution taken = 1 ml
 Volume of tap water added = 5 ml
 Volume of M/10 sodium carbonate added= 5 ml
CONCLUSION:
The soap for which the time taken for the disappearanceof foam
is highest has maximum foaming capacity and is the best quality soap
among the soaps tested

CONCLUSION

From the above experiments, it can be inferred that soap's

foaming capacity increases when it is added to soft water
(Containing M/10 Sodium Carbonate). This means that soap's
cleaning property is better in soft water than in hard water.

SCOPE FOR FURTHER STUDIES

1.We can also perform this test with washing powder and
washing soaps to test their foaming capacity and the effect of
the addition of sodium carbonate (washing soda) on the
foaming capacity of different soap solution.
2.We can buy good quality soap by testing its foaming
capacity