On soapcalc.net what do the acids mean?

[Loolee]

On the side of soapcalc.net, there is a list of different acids: Lauric, Myristic, Palmitic etc. What do these mean? What purpose do they serve?

[TallTayl]

They explain how the various soaping oils are chemically put together and give a pretty decent idea how they will perform in soap and other concoctions. The length and saturation of the fatty acid chains and "holes" in the form of unsaturated places in the chain tell you an awful lot too, such as the stability of the fatty acid so you know which are prone to quick oxidation and those which will be more 'durable' in a soap. The following are very brief examples, but hopefully help a wee bit...

For instance, lauric acids are very cleansing. Coconut is high in lauric, and is a very cleansing oil. It's also quite stable.

Polyunsaturated Oils and those high in Linolenic, on the other hand, are less stable and can make your soap prone to DOS and oxidation. See soybean for example. These may feel gentler to the skin and will make the soap 'softer' or more prone to quick wear during use. Lather improves with these, so they're of benefit to a soapmaker.

As you formulate your soap, keep an eye on the various values to figure out how balanced the various oils are when combined.

[Loolee]

thanks for the reply. Is there a website that explains all this in more detail, or is it just trial by error? I'm wanting a creamy, mild soap and am wondering how to get that.

[Candybee]

Soapcalc.net has a section called "Soap Bar Qualities" which further explains it.

[Loolee]

awesome! TY!!