Write the chemical formula for washing soda how may it be obtained from baking soda name and industry news of washing soda other than washing clothes
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Chemical Formula of Washing Soda:
Washing soda has the chemical formula Na₂CO₃·10H₂O, which stands for sodium carbonate decahydrate.
Preparation from Baking Soda:
Washing soda can be obtained from baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃) through a two-step process involving thermal decomposition and hydration.
The chemical equations involved are:
- Thermal decomposition of baking soda:
2NaHCO₃(s) → Na₂CO₃(s) + CO₂(g) + H₂O(g) - Hydration to form washing soda:
Na₂CO₃(s) + 10H₂O(l) → Na₂CO₃·10H₂O(s)
Other Uses of Washing Soda in Industry (Apart from Washing Clothes):
- Glass Manufacturing:
Sodium carbonate serves as a flux in glass production, lowering the melting point of silica and facilitating easier molding of glass. - Paper Industry:
It is employed during the pulping process to soften wood chips and extract lignin, improving fiber separation and pulp quality. - Soap and Detergent Production:
Sodium carbonate is used as a water softener and builder in soaps and detergents to improve cleaning efficiency in hard water. - Textile Processing:
In the textile industry, washing soda helps in dyeing and bleaching fabrics by adjusting pH levels and removing acidic impurities. - Water Treatment:
It neutralizes acidic water, helps in softening hard water by removing magnesium and calcium ions, and stabilizes pH in water systems. - Chemical Industry:
It acts as a raw material in the manufacture of other sodium compounds such as sodium silicate and sodium phosphate.
Sodium carbonate decahydrate plays a crucial role across multiple industrial applications due to its alkaline nature, pH buffering capacity, and ability to interact with acidic and metal ions effectively.
