How and Why Soap Works: Thirty Home Experiments Exploring the Science of Surfactants

By Julian R Silverman

We wash with soap several times every day, but how does it get us clean?

Soap has been used for centuries worldwide and is key to health and hygiene. But how exactly does soap work? What is in it, and how do the ingredients come together to make something that can remove dirt and bacteria yet also be safe for our skin?

How and Why Soap Works explores the science behind this everyday substance. With hands-on demonstrations to try at home you can:

Explore the history of soaps and the science behind how they work Uncover basic concepts across chemistry and materials science Learn to develop and test your own scientific questions

Along the way, journey through history, medicine, psychology, toxicology, and sustainability to discover that soap is more than just a cleanser. It's an ancient innovation and an everyday material that shapes how we move through time and space.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1837676518
• ISBN13: 9781837676514
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.1"