Here's a breakdown:

* Saponification is the process of hydrolyzing (breaking down with water) fats or oils (triglycerides) with a strong alkali (like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) to produce soap and glycerol.

Here's the basic chemical equation:

Fat/Oil + Strong Alkali → Soap + Glycerol

Let me know if you'd like a more detailed explanation of the saponification process!