Sodium stearate (a white solid) is the most common type of soap. Each molecule consists of a long non-polar covalent hydrocarbon ‘tail’ and a polar, ionic ‘head’ where the charge is.

As a chemical compound, a soap molecule has a water-loving head and a grease- and oil-loving carbon chain tail that surrounds and lifts up dirt molecules, Konkol explained. This basic formula was ...

To prevent the oil and water from separating (and thus the food spoiling), soap-like chemicals called ... One or two fatty acid groups can be added to a molecule of glycerol.