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Soap Trivia Quiz

Soap is wonderful stuff. How much do you know about this product that you use every day? Warning: Do not attempt to make your own soap unless you have safety training. Lye causes serious burns!

A multiple-choice quiz by drbabe. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
drbabe

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
333,770

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
560

Last 3 plays: Guest 94 (6/10), Guest 102 (9/10), lolleyjay (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Soap is created when fat reacts with lye in the correct proportion and at the correct temperature. What is this reaction called? Hint

esterification

saponification

glycerolization

salination

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is another product of the reaction of lye and fat? Hint

nitrocellulose

nitroglycerin

glycerol

trinitrotoluene

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Question 3 of 10

3. The soap molecule has a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. To what does the hydrophilic end attach to remove the dirt? Hint

the dirt

the other soap molecules

the oils on your hands

the water molecules

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Question 4 of 10

4. Is all soap made with lye?

Yes

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the source of fat for traditional Castille soap? Hint

tallow

safflower oil

olive oil

lard

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Question 6 of 10

6. What type of pot should you not use to make soap? Hint

gold

glass

aluminum

enameled steel

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Question 7 of 10

7. Beef fat can be used to make excellent soap and also finds use in candle-making. What is the common name for this white, waxy substance? Hint

lard

tallow

blubber

Crisco

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Question 8 of 10

8. What would a soapmaker aim to improve by adding ethyl alcohol(ethanol)to soap? Hint

transparency

hardness

color

cost

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Question 9 of 10

9. Ivory soap was first sold in 1879. As far as I know, it is the only soap that floats. Why does it do that? Hint

It is 99 44/100% pure.

It is hydrophobic.

It has more fat than other soaps.

It is less dense than water.

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Question 10 of 10

10. This brand of soap and later line of dishwashing liquid is named for the two types of oil originally used to make it. What is the name of this product? Hint

Kiss My Face Olive and Aloe

Boraxo

Palmolive

Lifebuoy

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 02 2024 : Guest 94: 6/10
Oct 31 2024 : Guest 102: 9/10
Sep 27 2024 : lolleyjay: 9/10
Sep 27 2024 : james1947: 10/10
Sep 27 2024 : kstyle53: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Soap is created when fat reacts with lye in the correct proportion and at the correct temperature. What is this reaction called?

Answer: saponification

When body-temperature lye is slowly added to body-temperature melted fat with constant stirring, soap is formed if the proportions of fat and lye are right.

2. What is another product of the reaction of lye and fat?

Answer: glycerol

Fat and lye react to form soap and glycerol. Big manufacturers separate the two products and sell them separately. A benefit of making your own soap is the glycerol, also known as glycerin, which is a moisturizer and is gentle to sensitive skin.

3. The soap molecule has a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. To what does the hydrophilic end attach to remove the dirt?

Answer: the water molecules

Hydrophilic means "water loving" so this end orients toward the water molecules and the the hydrophobic or "water hating" end is attracted to the dirt. Thousand of soap molecules surround the dirt and create micelles, which suspend the dirt and allows it to be washed away.

4. Is all soap made with lye?

Answer: Yes

All soap is made with lye, but not all cleaners. Detergents clean clothes but do not contain lye. They also do not foam, but since customers associate bubbles with cleaning, foaming surfactants are added.

5. What is the source of fat for traditional Castille soap?

Answer: olive oil

Traditional Castille soap was made with lye and olive oil only. This produces a very hard and white product, which should be cut into bars shortly after it is made. Currently, most soap marketed as Castille actually is coconut oil soap, which lathers nicely but can be drying.

6. What type of pot should you not use to make soap?

Answer: aluminum

Aluminum should not be used in making soap because it dissolves in lye (sodium hydroxide). The enameled steel pot is probably the most practical choice.

7. Beef fat can be used to make excellent soap and also finds use in candle-making. What is the common name for this white, waxy substance?

Answer: tallow

Tallow is beef fat. Lard is pig fat and blubber is the fat of whales. Butter is composed of fat and can be used to make soap. Crisco is fat in the can. In olden times candle-making was done by dipping wicks into tallow repeatedly until the desired diameter was reached.

8. What would a soapmaker aim to improve by adding ethyl alcohol(ethanol)to soap?

Answer: transparency

Ethyl alcohol makes soap clear, but again proportions have to be just right.

9. Ivory soap was first sold in 1879. As far as I know, it is the only soap that floats. Why does it do that?

Answer: It is less dense than water.

Urban legend has it that a Proctor and Gamble employee walked away from his soap mixer for lunch and when he returned the resulting product with extra air whipped into it was sold anyway! This is what we were taught in Ohio history. There is now documentation that shows that floating Ivory was no serendipitous discovery.

10. This brand of soap and later line of dishwashing liquid is named for the two types of oil originally used to make it. What is the name of this product?

Answer: Palmolive

The B.J. Johnson Soap Company developed Palmolive, which was originally made with palm and olive oils. The product was so popular, the company was renamed Palmolive.

Source: Author drbabe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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