MCQ Detailed View

Soap is manufactured from oils and fats through a chemical process called saponification. During saponification, a fat or oil reacts with a strong alkali, typically sodium hydroxide (NaOH), to produce soap and glycerine (also called glycerol). The reaction can be summarized as:

Fat/Oil + Sodium Hydroxide → Soap + Glycerine

In this process, the fat molecules, which are triglycerides, are broken down by the alkali. The fatty acid portion of the molecule forms the soap, while the glycerol backbone is released as glycerine, a valuable byproduct. Glycerine is widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food products due to its moisturizing and stabilizing properties.

It is important to note that sodium hydroxide itself is not the final product; it is the reactant that helps break down the fats. Sodium chloride (common salt) may sometimes be used to precipitate the soap from the mixture, but it is not the main product. The fats or oils are also reactants, not products, in this process. Therefore, the correct answer is glycerine, as it is the main byproduct formed alongside soap.

Understanding the production of soap demonstrates the practical application of chemistry in everyday life. It shows how chemical reactions can transform natural oils into useful products that are part of daily hygiene and health routines. This knowledge is essential for students studying organic chemistry, industrial chemistry, and everyday science, as it connects theoretical chemistry concepts to real-world applications.