Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[Cf. F.

saponification

. See

The act, process, or result, of soap making; conversion into soap; specifically

(Chem.)

, the decomposition of fats and other ethereal salts by alkalies;

as, the

saponification

of ethyl acetate

Noun.

Conversion into soap.

saponification ‎(countable and uncountable, plural saponifications)

(chemistry) The hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of the acid.
The reaction of a metallic alkali (base) with a fat or oil to form soap.

ester formation

soap formation