Dehydrated soda ash is a colorless crystalline powder. In nature, it occurs in large volumes, mainly in salt formations in the form of soil brines, minerals and brine in salt bodies of water. In addition, soda ash is found in the ash of a number of seaweeds.
In modern industry,
sodium carbonate (the chemical name for soda) is produced during the ammonia-soda process, in the complex processing of nepheline, from natural soda and during the carbonization of sodium hydroxide. The most environmentally friendly is its receipt from natural raw materials.
This substance was known to the ancient Egyptians, who used it as a detergent and when cooking glass. We got it from the waters of salt lakes. The first artificial pure soda ash was isolated by the Frenchman A. L. Duhamel du Monceau. In nature, the main deposits of sodium carbonate are in Canada, the USA, Kenya, South Africa, and Mexico. The most famous salt lakes with a high content of soda ash in the water of Searles Island in California and Natron Island in Tanzania.
It is well soluble in water, due to hydrolysis of the salt , the soda solution has an alkaline reaction. This substance is a very important raw material in the chemical industry (the manufacture of paints and varnishes and synthetic detergents). Most soda is used as a component of the charge in the manufacture of glass, the manufacture of soap and other detergents. Soda ash is the raw material for the production of various sodium salts (including caustic soda). Use it when tanning the skin, cooking pulp, neutralizing acidic elements during the cleaning of petroleum products. In addition, in the energy sector, it serves to soften the water supplied to steam boilers. Found soda ash in metallurgy. There, this tool is used for refining and degreasing metals, processing bauxite (raw materials for aluminum), and desulphurization of blast-iron. Soda is delivered to consumers in disposable special soft containers of the Big-Bag type, having a weight of up to 800 kg, or in five-layer tarred or laminated bags (weight up to 50 kg). For transportation of matter in bulk, special hoppers and soda trucks are used.
Soda ash is used in everyday life. Ordinary people encounter it in food or as a component of detergents or water softeners. In food production, it is known as an E500 additive that regulates acidity, or a baking powder that prevents caking and lump formation. As a detergent, soda effectively removes fat. Due to its ability to soften water, it is used when washing enameled, earthenware, porcelain dishes, when boiling and washing fabrics. It is part of most washing powders and descalers. Soda is used to neutralize acidic components in wastewater. This substance has an allergic and irritating effect, its effect on the body is moderately dangerous.