Ren runs a hamburger stand and needs to clean up a season’s worth of grease buildup on the range hood over his griddle. Explain what he should look for in a cleaning product that can handle a layer of grease.

Answer:

Ren should look for a cleaning product that is a base. Grease is primarily composed of lipids, and bases react with lipids to break them down. Through a process called saponification, the base turns the grease into soap, which is water-soluble and can be easily washed away.