Chemical reaction involvedThe reaction involved in our production of Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis scented shower cream is through a saponification reaction. Saponification is the process of making soap molecules from the chemical reaction in which fatty esters such as fats and oils, are hydrolysed in basic conditions. The reaction usually requires fats and lye (Schumann & Siekmann, 2000). This process converts fats and oils, via a basic reaction medium, to salts of these fatty acids (Nsb.wikidot.com, 2015).General Form

glyceryl tristearate + sodium hydroxide -> glycerol + sodium stearate

Stoichiometry of equation(C18H35O2)3C3H5+ 3 NaOH C3H5(OH)3+ 3 C18H35O2NaEquilibrium (Thermodynamic) controlled or kinetic controlledThe reaction is an equilibrium controlled reaction. Equilibrium controlled reaction exhibits two particular requirements which are reversible and requires heat. When two or morereversiblereactions of the same reactants compete under a given set of conditions, the system is said to be under thermodynamic control, and the major product is the more stable product, which is called the thermodynamic product (Science.uvu.edu, 2015). In saponification, the reversible reaction of saponification is esterification. The temperature for the reaction to occur is between 40oC to 80oC.Catalysts usedThere are no catalysts used in the reaction. However, there are suggestions that thymol or some other oils do speed up the reaction.Use of excess reactants to increase yield at equilibriumThe use of high concentration alkali and oils that have high free fatty acids in saponification will speed up the process. Issue on competing reaction and selectivityTemperature and pHSingle pass conversionSingle-pass conversion gives the fraction of reactant converted on a single pass through the reactor. In contrast, overall conversion gives the fraction of reactant converted by the process, which may involve recycling reactant molecules many times through the reactor in order to increase their conversion.

Thymol added for anti-bacterial purposes The addition of scents, such as essential oils, to the soap mixture may affect the saponification process. Some oils inhibit the saponification process whereas others speed up the process.How to increase speed of soap making is that the speed of the reaction between the oil and the caustic soda is influenced by free fatty acid content of the oil, the heat of the components before mixing, and how vigorously the mixing is to be done. Free fatty acid contents, vigorous mixing, and heat, speed up the given soap-making process.

RED NEEDS REFERENCINGGREEN IS OKAYBLUE MAYBE IMPORTANT

References1. Schumann, K., & Siekmann, K. (2000). Soaps.Ullmann's Encyclopedia Of Industrial Chemistry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a24_2472. Nsb.wikidot.com,. (2015).Saponification - Nsb Notes. Retrieved 10 October 2015, from http://nsb.wikidot.com/c-9-5-5-13.