saponify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to convert (a fat) into soap by treating with an alkali.
-
to decompose (any ester), forming the corresponding alcohol and acid or salt.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a fat is converted into a soap by treatment with alkali
-
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
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of saponify
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:
To saturate the free acid in 1 gramme of wax requires 19 to 21 milligrammes of potassic hydrate, while 73 to 76 milligrammes more are necessary to saponify the myricine ether.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 443, June 28, 1884 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
I said: "Go and saponify, for I hate Calcutta."
From From Sea to Sea Letters of Travel by Rudyard Kipling
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
The quantity of potassic hydrate required to saponify one gramme or 15 grains of pure beeswax varies from 97 to 107 milligrammes.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 443, June 28, 1884 by Various
Transparent soap made under the second method may be saponified as usual and consist of any good toilet base.
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
When tallow is saponified there is formed, from the palmitin, stearin, and olein contained, with the cauticizing agent—in this case, lime—a soap.
From Great Sea Stories by Joseph Lewis French
It is rarely adulterated and is very readily saponified.
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 oil is now dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered, and 1-2 grammes weighed into a flask and saponified with alcoholic potash as in the determination of ester or saponification value.
From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons
The mixture now consists of a partly saponified layer of fat above the spent lyes.
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
On the other hand, if we use a mineral acid as the saponifying agent, we obtain the fatty acids themselves in addition to 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
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
In saponifying a freshly stocked kettle it is apt to bunch.
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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
