HS Chemistry Students Participate in Saponification Reactions to Make Soap

All sophomore students enrolled in chemistry at North Shore High School had the opportunity to make soap with artisan soap maker, Mrs. Angela Carillo. Students helped Ms. Carillo with a saponification reaction that involved the mixing of various oils (olive, palm, and coconut) with sodium hydroxide. Students added dye and eucalyptus essential oil and then decorated their soap with lavender, poppy seeds and glitter. All students will cut the soap and take home two bars. 

This was a great opportunity for students to learn one of the essential organic reactions they study in chemistry and to see how chemistry can be used to make our world a better place. Mrs. Carillo also fielded questions on how she became a soap maker and how she collaborated with other soap makers in the industry. Students not only learned a lot about chemistry and business but also had a lot of fun!  
Thank you to the Viking Foundation for providing the resources to make the soap in all the sophomore chemistry classes, and to Mrs. Carillo for her artisan soap making skills and expertise.

Article provided by HS Science teacher, Seth Klein   Photos by Shelly Newman