Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals) is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2CO3 and its various hydrates. All forms are white, water-soluble salts that yield moderately alkaline solutions in water. Historically it was extracted from the ashes of plants growing in sodium-rich soils. Because the ashes of these sodium-rich plants were noticeably different from ashes of wood (once used to produce potash), sodium carbonate became known as “soda ash.” It is produced in large quantities from sodium chloride and limestone by the Solvay process.
Soda ash. has the following uses:
Industrial applications
– Being a highly soluble substance, soda ash is used for numerous chemical reactions. It’s mostly used as an ingredient in the manufacture of dyes and coloring agents, synthetic detergents and fertilizers. It’s also an important chemical agent used in enameling and petroleum industries.
Environmental applications
– Sodium carbonate is used to improve and treat the alkalinity of lakes that have been affected by rain. It is also used to reduce the acidity of emissions being generated from a power plant.
Detergent manufacture
– Soda ash is replacing phosphates that were earlier being used in a number of household detergents. Many other cleaning products such as dishwashing soaps also contain varying amounts of soda ash in their formulations.
Metallurgy
– Sodium carbonate is used to remove or de-clarify phosphates and sulfurs from a number of non-ferrous and ferrous ores. It’s also used in recycling of aluminum and zinc.
Glass manufacture
– Soda ash is an important ingredient in the manufacture of glass, since it helps reduce silica’s melting point.
