Characteristic

 

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.

Chemical formula:Na₂CO₃

Molar mass:105.9888 g/mol

Appearance:White solid, hygroscopic

Odor:Odorless

Density :2.54 g/cm³ (25 °C, anhydrous)

Melting point:851 °C (1,564 °F; 1,124 K) (Anhydrous)

Solubility:Soluble in aq. alkalis, glycerol;Slightly soluble in aq. alcohol;Insoluble in CS2, acetone, alkyl acetates, alcohol, benzonitrile, liquid ammonia

Solubility in glycerine:98.3 g/100 g (155 °C)

Solubility in ethanediol:3.46 g/100 g (20 °C)

Solubility in dimethylformamide:0.5 g/kg

Basicity (pKb):3.67

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):−4.1·10⁻⁵ cm³/mol

Refractive index (nD):1.485 (anhydrous)

 

Application

 

Sodium carbonate is commonly used as an inorganic base and a buffer component in several synthetic organic transformations in both chemical industries and research laboratories. Often used as an electrolyte, sodium carbonate acts as a very good conductor in the process of electrolysis. Apart from being used as a common chemical/biological/biotechnological laboratory reagent, it is also used as a water softener in laundering, processing wood pulp, cleaners, and making glass. It can be used for standardization of acids, and qualitative testing of cations. In dyeing with fiber-reactive dyes, sodium carbonate is used to ensure proper chemical bonding of the dye with cellulose fibers.