Assume the following: canola oil has 6% saturated fats and 94% unsaturated fats; corn oil has 13% saturated fats and 87% unsaturated fats; and coconut oil has 91% saturated fats and 9% unsaturated fats. Describe the relationship between the consistency of each soap sample and the saturation of oil.

The consistency of the soap will depend on the degree of unsaturation

(especially the cis double bonds) in its fatty acids. A soap derived from fats will be more solid due to easier packing in a solid crystal lattice. A soap derived from oils will be more liquid, since they are derived from folded unsaturated fatty acids.