Why does my skin feel soapy if I get sodium hydroxide on it?

Subject: Why does my skin feel soapy if I get sodium hydroxide on it?

Date: Tue Nov 28 17:17:52 2000
Posted by Richard
Grade level: grad (science) School: No school entered.
City: Sheffield State/Province: South Yorkshire Country: United Kingdom
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 975449872.Ch

Message:


Just hoping that you come up with the answer that free fatty acids in oils 
on the surface of my skin are saponified to form soaps. This would end a 
bit of a dispute with a colleague. Am I right? Hope so. Would love to be 
sure.

Re: Why does my skin feel soapy if I get sodium hydroxide on it?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Chemistry | Chemistry archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.