Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain carboxylic acids. But soap turns red litmus blue that is they are basic in nature. Why?

Open in App

Solution

Saponification:
Ester of higher fatty acids gives potassium or sodium salt of higher fatty acid and glycerol when treated with an alkali.. Sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acid are known as soaps. This reaction is called saponification (soap making).

fat or oil (ester) + base → glycerol (alcohol) + sodium salt of carboxylic acid(soap)

The presence of strong alkali makes soaps basic. That's why they turn red litmus to blue.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

Q. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chains of carboxylic acids.

Q. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain

___

Q. Consider the following two statements about soap and detergent –
(i) Soaps and detergents are salts of long chain fatty acids.
(ii) Both soap and detergent precipitate scum in hard water.
(iii) Soap is sodium or potassium salt of fatty acids whereas detergents are ammoniuma nd sulphonate salts of fatty acids.
Which of the above statements is (are) true?

State whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements. [5 MARKS]
(a) All substances are either acidic or basic.
(b) A compound if acidic will turn all indicators red.
(c) Lime water turns red litmus blue.
(d) Common salt dissolved in water turns blue litmus red.
(e) Phenolphthalein is a natural indicator.

Question 13

State whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.
(a) All substances are either acidic or basic.
(b) A compound if acidic will turn all indicators red
(c) Lime water turns red litmus blue
(d) Common salt dissolved in water turns blue litmus red
(e) Phenolphthalein is a natural indicator
(f) Calamine can be used to treat ant’s sting
(g) Lemon water is basic in nature

Join BYJU'S Learning Program