Sæbe

Sæbe is the Danish word for soap. Soap is a salt of a fatty acid, typically derived from the saponification of fats and oils. Saponification is a chemical reaction between triglycerides (fats or oils) and an alkali (a base) which produces fatty acid salts (soap) and glycerol.

Historically, soap was made by boiling animal fats with lye, a strong alkali made from wood ashes. Modern soap production often uses vegetable oils and synthetic alkalis, although the fundamental chemical process remains the same. The resulting soap is a surfactant, meaning it lowers the surface tension of water and allows it to mix with oil and grease, making it effective for cleaning.

Sæbe comes in various forms, including bar soap for personal hygiene and laundry, liquid soap for handwashing and dishwashing, and specialized soaps for industrial cleaning. The properties of soap, such as its lathering ability, hardness, and scent, can be altered by the choice of fats, oils, and additives used in its manufacture. In Denmark, as elsewhere, sæbe is an essential household commodity for maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of germs.