federalist
Well-Known Member
I didn't want to hijack the current thread on cure time, so I started a new thread.
I'm still very confused about what happens during curing. As DeeAnna pointed out, there are three simultaneous processes: saponification, drying, and the development of a crystalline structure.
The thing that confuses me is the saponification process. My understanding is each triglyceride gets cleaved by NaOH, the Na+ binds with the fatty acids (producing soap) and the OH- binds with the glycerol (producing glycerin). Since the OH- is bound to glycerin, why does week-old soap burn my hands? By this time, shouldn't saponification be complete, thereby consuming all free caustic hydroxide ions?
I'm still very confused about what happens during curing. As DeeAnna pointed out, there are three simultaneous processes: saponification, drying, and the development of a crystalline structure.
The thing that confuses me is the saponification process. My understanding is each triglyceride gets cleaved by NaOH, the Na+ binds with the fatty acids (producing soap) and the OH- binds with the glycerol (producing glycerin). Since the OH- is bound to glycerin, why does week-old soap burn my hands? By this time, shouldn't saponification be complete, thereby consuming all free caustic hydroxide ions?