Final answer:
The soap making recipe provided is not reasonable as it includes nontraditional use of ethanol as a solvent and lacks clarity on the quantity of NaOH relative to the saponification number. Traditional methods use water and ensure proper heating to accelerate the reaction, followed by precise titration calculations to confirm the amount of base needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The provided recipe for soap making is not entirely reasonable. The process of saponification requires the correct proportions of fat or oil, a strong base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and water. The recipe contains canola oil as the fat source and NaOH as the base, which are both correct components. However, using ethanol as a solvent is nontraditional in this context, and may not contribute to the saponification process effectively. Additionally, the safety and effectiveness of heating ethanol to the point where its smell is gone can be questionable due to ethanol's flammability and evaporation at lower temperatures. Moreover, ensuring that there is enough NaOH to complete the saponification is crucial, and the recipe provided does not specify if the quantity is adequate based on the saponification number of the fat used.
Traditionally, soap is made by heating fats with an appropriate amount of base and water. After the reaction is complete, the soap is often precipitated by adding NaCl and then washed to remove any excess base and glycerol byproduct. The process also typically involves a titration calculation to ensure the correct amount of NaOH is used. Heating is necessary to accelerate the reaction between the fat and the base, but the use of ethanol and the method for determining when the reaction is complete in this recipe are not in line with standard practices.