Question

Why is common salt added during the preparation of soap from oil? Also write the name of the product formed ,besides soap that is obtained during soaponification process?

Answer 1

Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids. When triglycerides in fat/oil react with aqueous NaOH or KOH, they are converted into soap and glycerol. This is called alkaline hydrolysis of esters. Since this reaction leads to the formation of soap, it is called the Saponification process.