Did you take chemistry class in high school? If you did, you’ve likely already experienced soapstone. Most lab tables are made of this material because of its chemically “inert” composition. (That’s just a fancy way of saying that chemicals won’t ruin it. It’s all coming back to you now, isn’t it?) Resistant to stains and bacteria, soapstone can hold up to Bunsen burners and high school students determined to wreak havoc. Its ability to withstand all of that makes soapstone a pretty great choice for kitchen and bath countertops too.