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saponify

American  
[suh-pon-uh-fahy] / səˈpɒn əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

saponified, saponifying
  1. to convert (a fat) into soap by treating with an alkali.

  2. to decompose (any ester), forming the corresponding alcohol and acid or salt.


verb (used without object)

saponified, saponifying
  1. to become converted into soap.

saponify British  
/ səˈpɒnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

  1. to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a fat is converted into a soap by treatment with alkali

  2. to undergo or cause to undergo a reaction in which an ester is hydrolysed to an acid and an alcohol as a result of treatment with an alkali

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of saponify

1815–25; < Latin sāpōn- (stem of sāpō ) soap + -ify


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Sal soda solution 170 " Water 100 " V First saponify 100 parts house grease and 100 parts ordinary grease and make a run soap.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

It does not readily saponify, separates quickly, and it is almost impossible to unite when separated.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 360, November 25, 1882 by Various

B. lye to saponify a given weight of tallow and 50 per cent. of 38 degs.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

But to simplify the operation, he preferred to saponify the fat by means of lime.

From The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

When just enough alkali is used to completely saponify the amount of fat, the product is called a neutral, or mild, soap.

From Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Household Management by Ontario. Ministry of Education

Where large quantities of the oil are saponified care must be exercised as the soap formed suddenly rises or puffs up and may boil over.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

The red oil and tallow are first saponified with 15 degs.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

Upon boiling in an alcoholic solution the fat will be saponified, thus introducing an error in the analysis.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

The intermediate layer is difficult to treat satisfactorily; it is generally washed twice with water, the washings being added to glycerine water, and the fatty mixture saponified and the resultant soap utilised.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons

The "saponification equivalent" is the amount of fat or oil in grammes saponified by 1 equivalent or 56.1 grammes of caustic potash.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons

The time consumed in thus saponifying rosin is about five hours.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

In the glycerin industry the lyes obtained by saponifying the fats are first evaporated with “wet vacuum” and finally distilled with closed and live steam and a “dry vacuum.”

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

These acids, being in combination with the bases of the oil, would be set free only on saponifying the oil and subsequently decomposing with acid.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885 by Various

Thus, if we use caustic alkali as our saponifying agent for a fat or oil, we obtain the sodium or potassium salt of the higher fatty acids or soap and the alcohol, glycerine.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by E. G. Thomssen

On gently saponifying the esters, these are converted into the corresponding hydroxy derivatives—

From Synthetic Tannins by Georg Grasser

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