light sodium carbonate (soda ash)

Specialized and brief review

All about sodium carbonate and its soda

Sodium carbonate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na2CO3. Sodium carbonate is known as bicarbonate , soda ash , soda crystal, washing soda, soda ash, soda crystals, washing soda.

This substance is a part of water-soluble salts. Historically, it is extracted from the ashes of plants that grow in sodium-rich soils. Since the ash of these plants was rich in sodium and different from wood ash, sodium carbonate became known as soda ash. It is also produced in large quantities from sodium chloride and limestone by the Solvay process.

Types of sodium carbonate

• Light sodium carbonate
• Heavy sodium carbonate

What is the difference between light and heavy sodium carbonate?

The main difference between light and heavy sodium carbonate is in its types of mesh (particle size).

Light sodium carbonate has finer grains than heavy sodium carbonate and is widely used in detergent industries.

Heavy sodium carbonate has larger particles and is widely used in the glass industry.

Applications of sodium carbonate or its soda in industries

1. The most common use of sodium carbonate is in the glass industry, paper industry, soap and detergents.
2. Glass making: Sodium carbonate acts as a silica flux and raises the melting point of the mixture to something that can be achieved without special materials. Soda glass is mild and soluble in water, so some calcium carbonate is added to the molten mixture to make the glass insoluble. Bottle and window glasses are made by melting such a mixture of sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate and silica sand. When these materials are heated, carbonates release carbon dioxide. Thus, sodium carbonate is a source of sodium oxide. Soda lime glass has been the most common form of glass for centuries.
3. Water softening: sodium carbonate removes Mg2 and Ca2 to remove water hardness. These ions form insoluble solid deposits after purification with carbonate ions.
4. Food additives and cooking: Sodium carbonate is a food additive that is used as an acidity regulator, anti-aging, strengthening and stabilizing agent. For example, sodium carbonate is used in the production of syrup powder.
5. Disodium carbonate is used as a basic raw material in various fields. It is used as a common alkali in many chemical processes. Because it is cheaper and safer than NaOH.
6. Soda ash is used as a pH adjuster to maintain stable alkaline conditions for the action of photographic film developing agents.
7. It is a common additive to maintain optimal pH and carbonate hardness in swimming pools and aquarium water.
8. In dyeing with fiber reactive dyes, sodium carbonate is usually used before dyeing to ensure proper chemical binding of the dye to the cellulose fibers.
9. Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda as a component in fire extinguishers is often produced from sodium carbonate and this case can be considered one of the most important uses of baking soda .
10. is Sodium carbonate used to make sodium bisulfite. This reaction is used to remove sulfur dioxide from flue gases in power plants.
11. Sodium carbonate is used in the cotton industry to neutralize the sulfuric acid required for cotton separation.
12. Bicarbonate is used in the brick industry as a wetting agent to reduce the amount of water required for the clay to come out.
13. In casting, it is called a binder, and this material is used to attach wet alginate to alginate gel. Sodium carbonate is used in elephant toothpaste where it acts as a foaming and abrasive agent and causes a temporary increase in mouth ph.
14. It is used in the production of raw materials and fire extinguishing equipment. This product has the nature of alkali.

What is sodium carbonate?

Sodium carbonate is soluble in water and occurs naturally in dry areas, especially in mineral deposits formed when lakes evaporate. In ancient times, it was used in the preparation of mummies and in the early manufacture of glass, mineral deposits and natron have been extracted from under dry lakes in Egypt.

The history of soda ash discovery

Trona, or trisodium hydrogen carbonate dihydrate, is mined in various regions of the United States and provides almost all domestic sodium carbonate consumption. Large natural deposits found in 1938, such as around Green River, Wyoming, have made mining more economical than industrial production in North America.

There are significant reserves of trona in Türkiye. Two million tons of soda ash have been extracted from deposits near Ankara. It is also planted by dredging from some alkaline lakes such as Lake Magadi in Kenya. Hot salt springs continuously replenish the salt in the lake so that, provided the rate of dredging does not exceed the rate of replenishment, the source is quite sustainable.

Purchase and price of sodium carbonate

Due to its many uses, sodium carbonate can be found in many chemical stores. The most important issue in buying this material is to pay attention to its high quality and also the reasonable price. Digichemy is one of the centers that has made it possible for consumers to buy sodium carbonate with an ideal price and high quality. You can visit this center’s website to know how to buy and the price of sodium carbonate, as well as its technical details. The business experts of Digi Chemistry Group are ready to answer your questions about sodium carbonate and how to use it. It is also possible to order sodium carbonate online through the website or by phone for you dear consumers.