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ERIC Number: EJ1079290
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Oct
Pages: 3
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Green Soap: An Extraction and Saponification of Avocado Oil
Sutheimer, Susan; Caster, Jacqueline M.; Smith, Simone H.
Journal of Chemical Education, v92 n10 p1763-1765 Oct 2015
An introductory level green chemistry experiment is described that places a new twist on soap-making in lab. In this experiment, oil is extracted from an avocado, after which the oil is saponified to produce bars of green craft soap. Commonly used extraction solvents, such as petroleum ether, methylene chloride, and hexane, are replaced with safer ethyl acetate to extract the oil. Students find the experiment helpful in discovering the reality of fats and oils in foods, and in becoming aware of the direct relationship between oils in plants and soap. This experiment has been successfully carried out by students of introductory organic chemistry lab classes, but could be used by a general chemistry or an advanced placement high school class.
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A