Definition:
The saponification value is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH) required to saponify 1 gram of fat or oil.
Significance:
Indicates the average molecular weight (or chain length) of the fatty acids in the fat or oil.
Higher saponification values suggest the presence of short-chain fatty acids, whereas lower values indicate longer-chain fatty acids.
Used to differentiate between different types of fats and oils.
Principle:
The fat or oil is boiled with a known excess of alcoholic KOH, which saponifies the fat.
The remaining KOH is then titrated with a standard acid solution.
The saponification value is calculated from the difference between the amount of KOH added and the amount of KOH remaining after the reaction.
Equation of Saponification Value:
