Washing Soda

Question 1 What is the chemical name and formula of washing soda?

Question 2 What is soda ash?

Question 3 Name a metal compound which has detergent properties?

Question 4 Name a sodium compound used for making borax and glass?

Question 5 Explain the preparation of washing soda by solvay’s process?

Question 6 Give uses of washing soda?

Question 7 Give few properties of washing soda?

Contents

1 Washing Soda
2 Preparation of Washing Soda
3 Properties of Washing Soda
4 Uses of Washing Soda

Washing soda is sodium carbonate containing 10 molecules of water of crystallisation.It is called as sodium carbonate decahydrate.

The formula of washing soda is

Sodium carbonate which does not contain any water of crystallisation is called anhydrous sodium carbonate or soda ash.The formula is Na2CO3

Preparation of Washing Soda

It is prepared by Solvay’s process.

(1) A cold and concentrated solution of sodium chloride is reacted with ammonia and carbon dioxide to obtain sodium hydrogen carbonate.

(2) Sodium hydrogen carbonate is separated by filtration,dried and heated.Oh heating sodium hydrogen carbonate decomposes to form sodium carbonate.

(3) Anhydrous sodium carbonate is dissolved in water and recrystallised to get washing soda crystals containing 10 molecules of water of crystallisation.