Soap is a basic hygiene product that we use every day without even thinking about its origin and composition. It has been around for thousands of years, and its history is much more interesting than it might seem at first glance. People began using soap-like substances in ancient times, but it is difficult to trace their history – soap quickly decomposes, so its ancient samples have not survived to this day. However, archaeologists have found evidence that as early as Mesopotamia (the Middle East), around 2500 BC, people used water and various natural ingredients to wash away dirt and treat wounds. In this article, we will tell you not only how soap cleanses our body, but also about its amazing history, which began thousands of years ago.
The principle of soap is very simple, and now you will see it for yourself
What Soap Is Made Of
Soap is an extremely simple hygiene product in terms of composition. It is simple even despite the fact that many additional components are added to modern recipes.
Soap is made from a mixture of fats and lye. Lye is a soluble compound that reacts with fats to form soap. As chemist Kristin Konkol explained to Live Science, a soap molecule has two key parts: a water-loving head (hydrophilic part) and an oil-loving tail (hydrophobic part). This structure helps the soap surround and trap dirt, making it easy to rinse away with water.
Some people choose soap making as a hobby. Image source: kimikocraft.com
The soap-making process begins with combining fats (both vegetable and animal) with lye, which causes a chemical reaction called saponification. This creates soap molecules and glycerin. The finished mixture is poured into molds where it hardens, and then the soap is left to mature until it becomes strong. Sometimes fragrances are added to the soap to make it smell nice.
How Soap Works
Soap works because of its special molecules, which, as we learned above, are made up of two parts. One of them is attracted to water, and the other to fats and oils. When a person lathers their skin, these molecules work in the following way: the tails of the soap molecules cling to the fats and oils that are on the skin, and their heads are attracted to water. This allows the soap to envelop dirt and grease, turning them into a structure that is easy to rinse away with water.
The image clearly shows how soap works. Source: livescience.com
Explain how soap worksyou can use a simple example. If a person spills oil on the table and tries to wash it off with plain water, the oil will remain on the surface, since water and fat do not mix. But if you add soap, its molecules will capture the oil particles, making them water-soluble. The same thing happens on the skin: soap helps water carry away fat and dirt, making them washable, which provides cleansing.
Read also: Should you wash fruits and vegetables with soap?
When was soap invented
As we have already understood, soap has a simple formula and operating principle. The history of this hygiene product goes back to ancient times.
For centuries, when washing, people mainly used plain water. For example, representatives of the Indus civilization, which existed on the territory of modern Pakistan, India and Afghanistan from 2600 to 1900 BC, used baths. But water was clearly not enough to completely get rid of dirt and bad smell.
People most likely invented soap by accident. Image source: sladik.net
Historians have a hard time pinpointing when soap was invented because it decomposes quickly. The earliest written records of soap-like substances date back to around 2500 BC, and according to them, the first soap was created in Mesopotamia. The Sumerians used water and sodium carbonate to wash their faces, and beer and hot water to clean wounds.
About a couple hundred years later, the Akkadian Empire began using a mixture of plants, date palm oil, and other natural ingredients that resembles modern soap in composition. Although ancient people did not have modern science, they could have created soap by accident.
Old soap samples. Photo source: culture.ru
Ultimately, soap is an integral part of our lives, which people have been using for thousands of years. Despite its simple formula, its ability to cleanse the skin and wash away dirt makes it a unique, time-tested product.
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But what about germs? After all, soap not only washes away dirt, but also helps get rid of dangerous bacteria. If you are interested in learning how exactly soap kills germs, don't miss our material on this topic!