Uses of Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
Sodium Carbonate is a useful chemical compound. It has several uses in industries, laboratories as well as in our very homes. Read on to know more…
Washing soda is chemically known as sodium carbonate. It is also referred to as soda ash or soda crystals. Washing soda is a sodium salt obtained from carbonic acid and is found in the form of a white powder. It is mostly found in a crystalline form as a heptahydrate (with seven molecules of water). When exposed to air, it loses the water molecules to form a monohydrate. When it dissolves in water, it is broken down to release ions of sodium and carbonate.
Let’s have a look at some of the main uses of washing soda.
Industrial Uses of Washing Soda
Washing soda has a significant role in the glass industry. It is used for manufacturing glass. Firstly, a mixture of washing soda, sand or silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate are heated to very high temperatures and then it is cooled down very quickly, which result in the formation of glass. Sodium carbonate has its uses in brick industry in the form of a wetting agent. It helps in the reduction of water content in the clay and makes the task of molding the clay in the shape of a brick easier. In the dyeing industry, washing soda is used to facilitate the chemical bonding between the dye and the fiber.
Uses of Washing Soda in Chemical Laboratory Washing soda is a good electrolyte and is used in electrolysis process (chemical reaction carried out with the help of electric current). The advantage of sodium carbonate as an electrolyte is that it is a good conductor of electricity
, and also it does not cause any kind of corrosion to the anodes used in electrolysis process. Due to its high stability, this chemical compound is often used in the quantitative analysis of acid-based solutions.
Domestic Uses of Washing Soda Washing soda is used in homes for the purpose of softening hard water. We have seen that when soaps or detergents are added to hard water, no lather is formed, which in turn affects the cleaning ability of the soap. This is because the calcium
and magnesium ions present in hard water react with soaps and detergents and changes their properties and prevents formation of lather. This is when more detergent is required to make lather. When washing soda is added, it prevents the ions of the hard water from formation of chemical bonds and thus enables the detergent to clean dirt from the clothes easily. It is also used as a cleansing agent for the purpose of removing dirt from the surface of silver items. It is dissolved in water and used as a fungicide to kill molds. Washing soda is used as a food additive in the preparation of sherbet.
Other Uses of Washing Soda Sodium carbonate is important in taxidermy for preparing hunting trophies. When added to boiling water, it helps in the removal of flesh from the skulls and bones of dead animals. The hunting trophies thus made, provide a lot of information for biological and historical studies. Washing soda acts as a strong base, so it is very commonly used to neutralize acidic effects. During the process of developing photographic films, the pH value needs to be controlled to obtain the required stable alkaline condition. Therefore, sodium carbonate is very commonly used in this process to regulate the pH value. Water in the swimming pools
turns acidic due to repeated addition of chlorine as a disinfectant. Washing soda is added to this water to make them chemically neutral.
Washing soda has so many diverse uses mainly because it is a chemically stable compound and possesses strong alkaline properties.
