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I Love Science

Soap Science


With current events as they are, I thought I would post some information on what soap is and how it works.

The ancient Babylonians are credited with being the first people to make soap - almost 5000 years ago. Their basic recipe was animal fat, wood ash and water.

Today, the basic recipe hasn't changed much. It is still a combination of fat/oils with water and an alkali (basic ionic salt).

The graphic below illustrates the basic structure of soap and how it works.

Elessar · 26-30, M
Why it takes 20-30+ seconds for an optimal cleanup?

Why is it generally said that it is more effective with warm water vs cold water?
sciguy18 · M
@Elessar They’ve actually done studies on how long to wash. I think one study said 15 to 30 seconds was best; so they probably picked 20. I’ve also seen a study that said water temperature didn’t really make a lot of difference in terms of removing germs. Warmer water would probably help to dissolve dirt easier though.

 
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