What can be used instead of sodium hydroxide?

magnesium hydroxide
In summary, magnesium hydroxide is a safe alternative alkali to use as a replacement for sodium hydroxide and is readily available as both a powder and as 63\% solids slurry.

Can soap be made without sodium hydroxide?

All REAL soap is made with lye (sodium hydroxide mixed with liquid). Any skin or hair cleansing product made without sodium hydroxide is not soap, it is detergent.

Is sodium hydroxide same as caustic soda?

Sodium hydroxide, also called caustic soda or lye, is a traditional ingredient for soap-making. While potassium hydroxide is more common in liquid soap-making, it is possible to produce liquid soaps using caustic soda. An inorganic base, sodium hydroxide does not contain any carbon atoms, similar to water.

Is it better to make soap without lye?

Soap is an alkali (like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) combined with fats. Together they go through a reaction called “saponification”, and in the end you are left with soap. So, by the very definition of “soap”, you cannot make soap without lye.

Is sodium hydroxide safe in soap?

It’s commonly known as lye, or caustic soda. It’s an extremely caustic and reactive inorganic compound. This leads many to ask, is sodium hydroxide safe to use in soap and cosmetics? The short answer is yes, as sodium hydroxide goes through saponification to make soap.

How do you make sodium hydroxide from sodium bicarbonate?

3 Answers. You are correct: Taking baking soda and heating it to 850 ∘C will generate sodium oxide and liberate carbon dioxide and water. To generate sodium hydroxide, all you would need to do is wait for the heated soda to cool down and then add water.

Is sodium hydroxide same as lye?

A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. “Lye” most commonly refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), but historically has been used for potassium hydroxide (KOH).

What is the difference between lye and sodium hydroxide?

Caustic soda is one of the common names for sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which is also known as lye. Its common name derives from its chemical identity as a sodium hydrate and because it is caustic or corrosive. In pure form, caustic soda is a waxy, white solid. It readily absorbs water and forms aqueous solutions.

Can you use potassium hydroxide instead of lye to make soap?

Sodium hydroxide is the lye you use to make bar soap. No other substances can be used in place of either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to make soap. When you introduce lye to fats and oils, it breaks the molecules apart and bonds with them, creating a new compound – soap!

What is lye in soap?

Lye or sodium hydroxide is a chemical that is made from salt and it mixes with oil to become soap. At first, you have oil, water, and lye which undergo a curing process and these components are transformed into soap.

Is it possible to make bar soap without Lye?

It is possible to make bar soap without having to handle lye, but it’s a little bit of a cheat. The main way is by using melt and pour soap, which you melt in the microwave, stir in scent and color, and then pour into molds to harden.

What is sodium hydroxide in soap making process?

Sodium Hydroxide. Sodium Hydroxide(NaOH), also known as lye, is an essential ingredient in the soap making process. When sodium hydroxide beads or flakes are mixed with a liquid, a lye solution is created. This solution, when mixed with fats and oils, will cause a chemical reaction called saponification.