Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. They are surfactants, meaning they have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) ends, enabling them to emulsify and remove dirt and oils from surfaces.

Saponification, the reaction between an ester and an alkali like sodium hydroxide, is crucial in the preparation of soap. It converts esters into the sodium or potassium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids, which are the main components of soap.

When an ester reacts with sodium hydroxide, it is converted back to alcohol and the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid. This reaction is known as saponification.

Ethanoic acid reacts with absolute ethanol in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce an ester.

Esters are most commonly formed by the reaction of an acid and an alcohol. They are often sweet-smelling substances used in making perfumes and flavoring agents.

Carboxylic acids are characterized by their acidic nature, which arises from the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH) in their molecular structure.

Carboxylic acids are weak acids, unlike mineral acids like HCl, which are completely ionized in solution.

Pure ethanoic acid often freezes during winter in cold climates due to its relatively high melting point of 290 K, which gave rise to its name “glacial acetic acid.”

A 5-8% solution of acetic acid in water is commonly known as vinegar and is widely used as a preservative in pickles.

Denatured alcohol is ethanol that has been rendered unfit for drinking by adding poisonous substances such as methanol. Additionally, dyes may be added to color the alcohol blue for easy identification.