Enter the weight of the oil and the lye concentration into the calculator to determine the saponification value. This value is essential for soap making, indicating the amount of lye needed to fully saponify a given weight of oil.
Saponification Value Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the saponification value.
SV = W * LC
Variables:
- SV is the saponification value (mg KOH)
- W is the weight of the oil (grams)
- LC is the lye concentration (mg KOH/g oil)
To calculate the saponification value, multiply the weight of the oil by the lye concentration. This will give you the amount of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in milligrams needed to saponify the given weight of oil in grams.
What is a Saponification Value?
The saponification value is a measure of the amount of lye (potassium hydroxide, KOH) required to saponify a specific weight of oil. It is expressed in milligrams of KOH needed to saponify one gram of oil. This value is crucial for soap makers to determine the correct amount of lye to use in order to produce soap without excess fat or lye.
How to Calculate Saponification Value?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Saponification Value.
- First, determine the weight of the oil (W) in grams.
- Next, determine the lye concentration (LC) in milligrams of KOH per gram of oil.
- Next, gather the formula from above = SV = W * LC.
- Finally, calculate the Saponification Value (SV) in milligrams of KOH.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Weight of the oil (W) = 100 grams
Lye concentration (LC) = 190 mg KOH/g oil