Saponification Test
Shows positive test for:
Triglycerides and saponifiable lipids. Saponifiable lipids are those that can be hydrolyzed to under basic conditions to form fatty acid salts (soaps).
How to perform the test:
Approximately 0.5 ml of a liquid or 0.5 g of a solid is added to 0.5 ml of 3 M NaOH. After the sample is heated for 15 minutes, 10 ml of water is added and the solution shaken vigorously.
A positive test is indicated by:
The formation of bubbles (which indicate that a soap was formed).
a negative test (left) and a positive test (right)