saponification noun. [sǝ,pɒnɪfɪ'keɪʃ(ǝ)n] E19.
[French, or from SAPONIFY: see -FICATION.]
Chemistry.
1. The process of saponifying; orig., the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat to form a soap; now also, the alkaline hydrolysis of any ester to give a metal salt and an alcohol. E19.

2. The (natural) conversion of the soft parts of a corpse into adipocere. L19.

Comb.:
saponification equivalent, saponification number, saponification value the amount of alkali required to saponify a particular quantity of fat etc., spec. the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required by one gram of fat etc.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲