The seniors in Chemistry II concluded their study of fats, oils, lipids, soaps, and detergents by making “homemade” soap in the lab. Starting with the fat or oil of their choice and reacting it with sodium hydroxide (lye), students performed a saponifcation reaction. Giving their soap a personal and artistic touch, the students picked the fragrances and dyes of their choice to add to their soap. Chemistry II is a dual-credit college course, covering roughly a semester of organic chemistry and a semester of biochemistry.
