NATURE OF A FAT OR OIL USED IN SOAP MANUFACTURE.
Glycerine, being a trihydric alcohol, has three atoms of hydrogen which are replaceable by three univalent radicals of the higher members of the fatty acids, e. g.,
| OH | OR | |||
| C3 H5 | OH | + 3 ROH = C3 H5 | OR | + 3 H2O |
| OH | OR |
Glycerine plus 3 Fatty Alcohols equals Fat or Oil plus 3 Water.
Thus three fatty acid radicals combine with one glycerine to form a true neutral oil or fat which are called triglycerides. The fatty acids which most commonly enter into combination of fats and oils are lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic acids and form the neutral oils or triglycerides derived from these, e. g., stearin, palmatin, olein. Mono and diglycerides are also present in fats.