Soap
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Most kinds of soap are chemical compounds containing sulfates. When combined with water during bathing or washing, they help people and clothes get clean by reducing the ability of dirt and oil to hang onto skin or fabric.
Soaps are made from animal fats or vegetable oils.
There are two basic steps in making soap:
- soponification
- Salting-out of soap
Soap cleans very well in soft water. It is non-toxic to water life. It can be broken down by bacteria.
However, soap is only slightly soluble in water, so it is seldom used in washing machines. It does not work well in hard water. It cannot be used in strongly acidic solutions.
Man has used soap for at least 2000 years.
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