In the saponification of fats, why is ethyl alcohol used as a solvent instead of water?
Answer - In the saponification of fats there is used ethanol than water, since ethyl alcohol has higher proof of the alcohol and that help to make more transparent the soap. The starting material of the saponification of fats is mixed more in the ethyl alcohol than water and it help the chemical reaction to complete. Ethyl alcohol is mainly used in the hard soap making. The sodium salt of long chain fatty acid is known as hard soap and it is not dissolve in the water. so it is used in the saponification of fats than water.
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