2026/07/26 by Pedro Henrique Fonseca Veloso
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Food Chemistry and Fat Analysis #Hydroxide #Microencapsulation and Drying Processes #Potassium #Potassium hydroxide #Proteins in Food Systems #SOAP #Triglyceride
paper · doi:10.1021/acs.jchemed.6c00461
openalex publication_date 2026/07/26 · openalex created_date 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract Esters are widely present in everyday materials, and their study is important for understanding fundamental concepts in organic chemistry. This work presents a laboratory activity based on the saponification of different triglyceride mixtures through alkaline hydrolysis with potassium hydroxide. The experiment integrates stoichiometric calculations, hot-process soap preparation, and qualitative evaluation of the final products. Through hands-on experimentation, students investigate how variations in fatty acid composition influence the physicochemical properties of the soaps obtained, including foam formation, texture, and appearance. The activity enables direct observation of the reaction process and supports discussion of the relationship between molecular structure and macroscopic behavior. The proposed experiment connects ester chemistry to real-world contexts such as hygiene and personal-care products and is suitable for high school and introductory organic chemistry courses.