<P> Saponification is a process that produces soap . Soaps are salts of fatty acids . </P> <P> Vegetable oils and animal fats are the traditional materials that are saponified . These greasy materials, triesters called triglycerides, are mixtures derived from diverse fatty acids . Triglycerides can be converted to soap in either a one - or a two - step process . In the traditional one - step process, the triglyceride is treated with a strong base (e.g., lye), which cleaves the ester bond, releasing fatty acid salts (soaps) and glycerol . This process is also the main industrial method for producing glycerol . In some soap - making, the glycerol is left in the soap . If necessary, soaps may be precipitated by salting it out with sodium chloride . </P>

What happens to triglycerides when they react with naoh