Nepedia
Back to Discover
Independent Reader
⚛️

Lye

physical science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Lye is a name for many strong liquids.

Lejia de ceniza
Lejia de ceniza

These liquids are alkaline. This means they can react with fats and oils. People used to make lye by soaking wood ashes in water.

Lye helps make many foods. It is used to make chewy noodles and bagels. It also helps make pretzels. In some places, lye is used to prepare fish.

Preparing for Christmas 1950 (JOKAMT2Kot06-4)
Preparing for Christmas 1950 (JOKAMT2Kot06-4)

It can even make cocoa taste less bitter.

Lye is also used to make soap. Makers mix lye with water and oils. They cook the mix to turn it into soap. Some soaps are soft, while others are harder.

Lye is a strong cleaner. It can dissolve grease in ovens and drains.

HK TKO 將軍澳廣場 Tseung Kwan O Plaza mall shop JHC 日本城 Japan Home Centre goods June 2019 SSG 02
HK TKO 將軍澳廣場 Tseung Kwan O Plaza mall shop JHC 日本城 Japan Home Centre goods June 2019 SSG 02

It is also used in big factories. It can help make fruit juice look clear.

We must be very careful with lye. It can cause bad burns to skin and eyes. It can also be dangerous if swallowed. Always wear gloves and eye protection when using it.

159 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:HK TKO 將軍澳廣場 Tseung Kwan O Plaza mall shop JHC 日本城 Japan Home Centre goods June 2019 SSG 02.jpg
HK TKO 將軍澳廣場 Tseung Kwan O Plaza mall...
Preparing for Christmas 1950 (JOKAMT2Kot06-4).tif
File:Lejia de ceniza.jpg
Lejia de ceniza.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.