soap

(sōp )

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A cleansing chemical compound formed by an alkali acting on a fatty acid such as stearic acid to form sodium stearate, NaC₁₈H₃₅O₂. Castile soap is made by saponifying olive oil with sodium hydroxide and contains mainly sodium oleate, NaC₁₈H₃₃O₂.
SEE: detergent; SEE: saponification

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