How Does Soap Work Chemically?
Soap Basics Even when they’re in the bathtub or shower, most people don’t take the time to stop and think about how the soap they’re using actually works. Many people have never given a second thought, as long as it lathers properly and they get clean. Soap itself is a complex chemical combination that works in a number of different ways. Whether it’s scented or unscented, soap all works in the same basic way. How Does it Clean? Soap is a chemical compound consisting primarily of fatty acids. Soap acts as an emulsifying agent, causing otherwise incompatible materials to join and be washed away. Dirt and oil on a person’s skin is typically unable to be washed away by water alone. Because the oils aren’t readily able to combine with plain water, the water washes away and leaves the dirt and oils behind. When soap is applied to the skin, however, the potassium or sodium fatty acids within the soap combine and latch onto the dirt and oil molecules that are stuck to the skin. The soap has a
