This remarkable soap was sufficiently solid; but it dissolved in hot water with extreme facility. It is called marine soap, because it washes linen with sea water.

A poppy-nut-oil hard soap consisted of—

Soda7
Oil76
Water17
100[58]

[58] My own experiments. See [Fats], [Oils], and [Stearine].

The soap known in France by the name of soap in tables consists, according to M. Thenard’s analysis, of—

Soda4·6
Fatty matter50·2
Water45·2
100·0

M. D’Arcet states the analysis of Marseilles soap at—

Soda6
Oil60
Water34
100

SOFT SOAP.

The principal difference between soaps with base of soda, and soaps with base of potash, depends upon their mode of combination with water. The former absorb a large quantity of it, and become solid; they are chemical hydrates. The others experience a much feebler cohesive attraction; but they retain much more water in a state of mere mixture.