Sodium Carbonate - Introduction
Sodium Carbonate is an inorganic chemical compound. Sodium Carbonate is a generic term for Soda ash. Soda ash is made from Trona.
Trona is a two-salt solution. It is composed of Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate that occurs in lakes as a result of evaporation processes.
The most important of all basic heavy chemicals is Sodium Carbonate, also known as washing Soda or Soda ash. It has various hydrated forms. It has a strong alkaline taste.
It has a significant advantage over Sodium Hydroxide. It is non-corrosive and thus safer to handle.
Is Sodium Carbonate Acid or Base?
Sodium Carbonate is a basic salt. It tastes strongly alkaline. It is a salt of carbonic acid and Sodium Hydroxide. As it is made of weak acid (carbonic acid) and strong base (NaOH) so, it is strongly alkaline in nature. Reaction is given below –
H2CO3 + 2NaOH 🡪 Na2CO3 + 2H2O
Carbonic Sodium Sodium Water
Acid Hydroxide Carbonate
Its solution turns red litmus paper into blue which confirms its basic nature. Its pH is about 10.52.
Formula, Properties, Structure, Synthesis and Uses
Formula
The chemical formula for Sodium Carbonate is Na2CO3. When dissolved in water, this inorganic molecule produces carbonic acid and Sodium Hydroxide. In its purest state, it is a white powder with no odour. It's a strong base that can also be used as an antacid.
The Solvay process, Leblanc process, Dual-process, and Electrolytic process are the four methods for producing Sodium Carbonate.
Because it is a weak acid, it is only slightly soluble in ethanol and insoluble in alcohol. The use of Na2CO3 as a water softener is one of the most prevalent. The pH of the water is around 11.
Properties
Physical:
Chemical:
Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate is unaffected by heat. It melts at 852oC without disintegrating.
The release of OH–(aq) ions during hydrolysis make Sodium Carbonate aqueous solutions somewhat alkaline.
Na2CO3(s) + 2H2O(l) → H2CO3(aq) + 2Na+(aq) + 2OH–(aq)
Carbon dioxide from the air is absorbed by Sodium Carbonate aqueous solutions, which produces Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate.
Na2CO3(aq) + H2O + CO2(g) → 2NaHCO3(aq)
Carbon dioxide is formed when Sodium Carbonate reacts with moderate vegetable acids like lime juice.
Na2CO3(aq) + 2H+(aq) → 2Na+(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Na2CO3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Structure
Two Sodium atoms, three oxygen atoms, and one carbon atom make up each molecule of Sodium Carbonate.
The polyatomic Carbonate anion has a negative charge, whereas each Sodium cation has a positive charge.
As a result, Sodium Carbonate is a molecule with no charge.
Synthesis
Solvay Process
Historically, Sodium Carbonate was extracted from the ashes of plants grown in Sodium rich soil. Presently it is prepared by various methods such as Solvay process, Leblanc process, electrolytic process, Hou’s process etc. it is mined as well from several areas. The United States gets Sodium Carbonate mainly through mining which fulfills its domestic demand of Sodium Carbonate. Out of all these methods of preparation of Sodium Carbonate Solvay process is being used exclusively for the manufacture of Sodium Carbonate. So, we are describing the Solvay process here.
The Solvay process was discovered by Ernest Solvay, a Belgian industrial chemist, in 1861. It is more economical than other processes. It gives only calcium chloride as a waste product.
Solvay process is also known as ammonia-soda process. In this method, Carbon Dioxide and Ammonia are pumped into a chilled, saturated Sodium Chloride solution.
Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, which is only very little soluble in the presence of Sodium ions, is virtually fully precipitated during the processes that occur. To make Sodium Carbonate, it is filtered out and burnt.
This procedure's ingredients are inexpensive and widely available. The three main constituents are salt brine (NaCl), ammonia (NH3), and limestone (CaCO3). This technique produces a substantial amount of CaCl2.
The reactions can be represented using the equation below. To make it, the hydrates are heated. It can also be produced by heating (calcining) Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, as in the Solvay process:
2NH3 + H2O + CO2 → (NH4)2CO3
(NH4)2CO3 + H2O + CO2 → 2NH4HCO3
When common salt is added to a solution containing NH4+ and HCO3–, NaHCO3, the least soluble of the two, precipitates. It is then filtered out.
NH4HCO3 + NaCl → NH4Cl + NaHCO3
The Sodium biCarbonate is then heated to make Na2CO3.
2NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
It is possible to recycle the CO2 gas produced. When anhydrous Sodium Carbonate is dissolved in water, it recrystallizes to create washing Soda crystals that contain 10 molecules of water.
Uses
Few Uses of Sodium Carbonate are Listed Below –
It is largely used in production of detergents and soaps.
It is used in the manufacturing of glass.
It is used in the production of rayon polymers.
It is used as a food additive as an anticaking agent, raising agent, stabilizer etc.
It is used in cooking for example ramen noodles get their authentic flavor due to Sodium Carbonate.
It is used in the brick industry.
It is used in processing and tanning of animal hides.
It is used in toothpaste where it acts as a foaming agent.
It's used to make water glass (Sodium silicate), borax, Sodium phosphate, and a range of other salt compounds.
It's used to modify the pH of water.
Carbonate precipitates hard water, which contains magnesium and calcium ions, and is used as a water softener.
It can also be used as a laboratory standardisation reagent and as an analytical reagent.
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FAQs on Sodium Carbonate
1. What are the hazards related to Sodium Carbonate?
Sodium Carbonate can be hazardous to your health and safety if handled incorrectly or if you are accidentally exposed to it. When inhaled, this substance can irritate the respiratory tract, coughing, shortness of breath, and pulmonary edema.
Contact with the eyes can result in lasting corneal damage and even burns. If you use Sodium Carbonate or Soda ash in your home, be careful not to swallow or inhale the dust. Because of these risks, Sodium Carbonate should be handled with caution.
2. What care should be taken if exposure to the high amount of Sodium Carbonate happens accidentally?
Seek medical help and follow these first-aid instructions if you've been exposed to Sodium Carbonate:
Take a deep breath and look for some fresh air. If the victim is having trouble breathing, give him or her oxygen. If breathing is not possible, administer artificial respiration.
Examine your eyes for contact lenses and remove them if necessary. It's best to wash your eyes with a lot of water for at least 15 minutes.
Wash your hands well and apply an emollient to any irritated skin. Dispose of any infected clothing.
If you eat something, don't make yourself puke. Tight clothes should be loosening. The person should not be given anything to eat or drink while they're unconscious.
3. Where and in which form Sodium Carbonate is found?
Sodium Carbonate is found naturally on the planet, but it can also be made by combining Sodium chloride (salt) and ammonia. Sodium Carbonate can be found in food stores, swimming pool supply stores, and hardware stores. The grey-white powder, often known as a solid white powder, has no odour or flavour.
On the pH scale, it's highly alkali or a base. When it comes into touch with the skin, it's normally safe, but solutions prepared with it can be corrosive. While little doses aren't harmful, excessive amounts can induce poisoning. Sodium Carbonate, on the other hand, has a low toxicity risk for the most part.
4. Is Sodium Carbonate safe for the environment and biodegradable?
Sodium Carbonate is a naturally occurring chemical that can be found in soil and water, and it is not expected to have any negative impacts on wildlife or water if just small amounts are discharged into the environment.
As a result, it might be called environmentally friendly.
Sodium Carbonate, sometimes known as washing Soda, is a highly soluble but strongly alkaline substance. Because Sodium salts are inorganic chemicals, they will never degrade in the environment.
As a result, none of the Sodium salts in the laundry detergent is covered by the label's claim about biodegradability.
5. Can Sodium Carbonate be used instead of baking Soda?
The term "Soda ash" or "washing Soda" is frequently used to refer to Sodium Carbonate. Sodium biCarbonate is more commonly referred to as baking Soda.
Except for cases where both total alkalinity and pH are inadequate, the industry-standard has traditionally been to use Sodium biCarbonate (baking Soda) to raise total alkalinity and Sodium Carbonate (Soda ash) to improve pH.
Sodium Bi-Carbonate has a more obvious influence on total alkalinity while only slightly raising the pH of water. Sodium Carbonate has a significant effect on both the pH and total alkalinity.
