Teach Soap

So I am a total newbie to CP soap making with my first batch still in the molds.

In researching this process, I kept coming across warnings about fumes when mixing lye and water. However - I haven't been able to find anything identifying exactly what these fumes are? Can someone tell me?

Also, when using the lye calculator, it says that all ingredients should be measured by weight - not volume. Does this also mean that the recommended water (or milk) to be added is a weight measure?

Thank you!!!

KentuckyWoman

Yes, all ingredients are measured by weight, including water/milk/alternative liquids. It's more accurate than volume.

The fumes are basically water vapor, however they are heavy with Na+ and OH- ions (the dissolved sodium hydroxide). The dissolution reaction releases heat, so some of the water vaporizes into steam. It smells bad and makes you cough because of the basic nature of the ions in that vapor. Those irritate the mucus membranes of the nose and mouth. Some people are more sensitive to this than others.

_________________
~Kelly~

Thank you so much for clearing up both of those mysteries for me!!!

Marilyn

Yes, weight is correct, and I always weigh even my water.

However - it is also true that water has a specific gravity of 1.0, which means that a ounces volume of water also weighs one ounce.