saponification
/səˌpɑnəfəˈkeɪʃən/
noun
- The chemical process of turning a fat or oil into soap by reacting it with an alkali.
- During saponification, the fat molecules break down and combine with the alkali to form soap.
- Saponification is the key reaction in traditional soap making.
- The students observed saponification in the lab by mixing lye with vegetable oil.