Saponification
Saponification is the chemical reaction that turns fat or oil into soap when mixed with a strong base.
Think of it this way
Mix cooking oil with a strong cleaning solution and stir. The oil does not just float on top — it breaks apart and turns into something new. The slippery oil becomes a foamy substance that makes bubbles in water. The chemical reaction changed the fat molecules into soap molecules that can grab both oil and water at the same time.
Explaining saponification by grade level
When you mix animal fat like lard with a special strong liquid, something new happens. The fat changes into soap. It does not just get coated or covered. The fat itself becomes something different. You can feel the change because the slippery fat turns into a firm bar that makes bubbles in water.