"Cleaning up" chemistry: Soap making workshop demonstrating the principles of green chemistry

CHED 157

Joseph M. Kivaa, jmkivaa@yahoo.com, Salem State College, Salem, MA 01970 and Irvin J. Levy, irv.levy@gordon.edu, Department of Chemistry, Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984.
Soap making is an ancient traditional art that has experienced a great renaissance in the past decade. The preparation of a batch of soap suitable for the completion of about two-dozen full sized bars is simple and can be performed in many venues. We have run workshops for families, high-school educators, college students, elementary school students, and in museum settings. Here we discuss our methods of soap production and strategies to enhance the experience by critique of the method in light of the “Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry”.