In Kyle's Augustine’s Physical and Organic Chemistry classroom, upper school students are learning to design molecular structures from scratch.
This month, students are immersed in an ambitious synthesis project that challenges them to think like chemists, problem-solvers, and innovators simultaneously. Their charge? To create custom soap, they select specific fats and oils, then engineer the molecular characteristics they want their final product to have. Students work backward from questions like, Do I want a hard bar soap or something that can lather? These questions guide the choices they must make. “It all comes down to understanding the molecular structure and how structure determines function,” Kyle says.
The saponification lab serves as a bridge, connecting foundational knowledge from introductory chemistry to the complex organic reactions and mechanisms students will tackle later in the year. Working with advanced laboratory equipment and chemicals, students must carry out with precision their 60-minute synthesis process, a level of detail and foresight that mirrors real-world laboratory work.
The project unfolds in three distinct phases: planning the molecular design, executing the organic synthesis, and analyzing the soap's efficacy. Does it foam in water? Is it effective against germs? These tangible tests allow students to see the direct connection between their theoretical calculations and results. “Soap is nice because it’s on a more macro-molecular scale,” Kyle notes. “It's tangible. You can see it with your senses and analyze it.”
This hands-on experience is just the beginning. As students master the language of organic chemistry, including line structures, functional groups, and reaction mechanisms, they'll move on to synthesizing compounds such as aspirin. Students are learning to think critically, to plan and revise, to connect theory to practice. This experiment prepares them for more complex projects ahead, such as recycling biodegradable plastics into lactic acid and analyzing the chemistry behind sustainable materials. Throughout the year, each lab becomes another step toward mastery of the methods and mindsets that laboratory scientists use every day.
Soap making is messy, challenging work that requires precision, creativity, and resilience, exactly the kind of learning experience that prepares students for college chemistry courses and authentic problem-solving in any field. In transforming everyday materials into something useful, students also transform their understanding of what learning can be: bold, hands-on, and joyfully complex.
