How is lye water created from ash and water (chemically)?

Subject: How is lye water created from ash and water (chemically)?

Date: Wed Feb 28 23:54:00 2001
Posted by Gina
Grade level: undergrad School: Lebanon Valley College
City: No city entered. State/Province: PA Country: USA
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 983422440.Ch

Message:


In the creation of soap, a hydroxide is used with a triglyceride to create the 
components of soap.  Pioneers used lye water with lard or some other fat to 
create soap, so the hydroxide came from the lye water, often made by caustic soda 
when it could be attained.  What is the chemical reaction between ASHES from 
fires, used instead of caustic soda, with the water that creates hydroxide?

Re: How is lye water created from ash and water (chemically)?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Chemistry | Chemistry archives

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