The most common soaps used by man are potassium and sodium. Magnesium and calcium soaps are found as bathtub ring. Lead and zinc are used to make medicinal soaps and lithium is used to make lubricants. Aluminum soaps are used for waterproofing. Formerly, extracts of wood ashes were used.
Potassium gives soft soaps and sodium gives hard soaps.
Detergents often are made by sulfonation of other types of organic molecules usually. Saponins from plants are often used in some societies as soap or detergent substitutes. Coconut oil is still the most commonly used oil for soap. Paints Many polyunsaturated oils are incorporated with pigments into paints and varnishes. Linseed oil and tung are among the most common of this type.