Question

What is the side product of soap industry? Give reactions showing soap formation.

Answer 1

Glycerol is obtained as a side product during the formation of soaps.
Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids such as stearic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Soaps containing sodium salts are formed by heating fat (i.e., a glyceryl ester of fatty acid) with aqueous sodium hydroxide.