Dense Soda Ash or Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda and soda ash), Na2CO3, is the sodium salt of carbonic acid which is easily soluble in water. Pure sodium carbonate is a white, colorless powder that absorbs moisture from the air, has an alkaline/bitter taste, and forms a strong alkaline solution.
Utility
- The manufacture of glass is one of the important uses for sodium carbonate. Can be a flux for silica, by lowering the melting point of the mixture to something that is acceptable without special materials. This "glass soda" is easily soluble in water, so calcium carbonate is added to the unmelted mixture to make the glass that is produced is insoluble in water. This type of glass is called soda lime glass, "soda" for sodium carbonate and "lime" for calcium carbonate.
- It is commonly used as an adjunct to swimming pools to neutralize the corrosive effects of chlorine and raise the pH.
- In chemistry, it is commonly used as an electrolyte.
Domestic use
Can be used as a water softener in washing clothes. It mixes with the magnesium and calcium ions in the water and prevents them from binding to the detergent being used. Sodium carbonate can be used to remove grease, oil, and wine rust.
Test
Can be used to distinguish other metal ions, which will be precipitated with carbonate ions. Can distinguish copper, iron, calcium, zinc, and lead ions. Sodium carbonate solution is added to the metal salt. The blue precipitate indicates Cu2+ ions. A dirty green precipitate indicates Fe2+ ions. A yellow-brown precipitate shows Fe3+ ions. A white precipitate indicates Ca2+, Zn2+, or Pb2+ ions. The bonds formed include copper(II) carbonate, iron(II) carbonate, iron(III) oxide, calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, and lead(II) carbonate. The precipitate is formed because almost all carbonates are not easily soluble in mosquito water.
