JAMB - Chemistry (2020 - No. 10)
Liquid black soap is made by boiling palm oil with liquid extract of ash. The function of the ash is to provide the ?
Acid
Ester of alkanoic acid
Alkali
Alkanol
Explanation
A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions / an alkaline solution that is used to make soaps. "Lye" most commonly refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), but historically has been used for potassium hydroxide (KOH).