What is the chemical formula for sodium hydroxide?
Sodium hydroxide is a strong
chemical compound with the chemical formula (NaOH). It is also known as
caustic soda (it is known in some Arab countries as Atruna), and it is used in
many industries. Its solubility in water is very high and aqueous solutions reach
large concentrations. Sodium hydroxide is the main source in the manufacture of
table salt (sodium chloride).
Names
IUPAC name: Sodium hydroxide
Other names
· Caustic soda
· Lye
· Ascarite
· White caustic
· Sodium hydrate
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, or better known
as caustic soda or lye, is a strong chemical compound that is very versatile in
uses, and is used in many areas in manufacturing processes. It has a very high
water solubility, and table salt is the main source of its manufacture. The
most important properties of sodium hydroxide are:
1. It is a white solid compound.
2. May have a caustic effect on the skin.
3. It dissolves in water easily.
4. It reacts with dilute acids to form sodium salt, acid,
and water.
Health and industrial benefits of sodium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide is used in the
manufacture of many everyday products, such as:
1. Sodium hydroxide and detergents
Sodium hydroxide is used in the
manufacture of a wide range of detergents and soaps. Chlorine bleach is
produced by combining sodium hydroxide and chlorine. It is also used in
cleaning products due to its ability to dissolve grease and pipe-clogging
grease into soap and thus dissolve in water.
2, Sodium hydroxide in pharmacy
and medicine
Sodium hydroxide is used in the
manufacture of a variety of drugs and pharmaceutical products, such as common
pain relievers such as aspirin, and it can also be used in the manufacture of
anticoagulants that can help prevent blood clots or drugs that help lower
cholesterol levels.
3. Sodium hydroxide and energy
Sodium hydroxide is used in the
production of fuel, so that the cells in it, such as batteries, produce
electricity with high efficiency, so it can be used in the field of
transportation.
4. Sodium hydroxide and water
treatment
Many water treatment facilities
use sodium hydroxide to control the acidity of the water and remove heavy
metals in it, and it is also used in the production of sodium hypochlorite,
which is used as a water disinfectant.
5. Sodium hydroxide and food
Sodium hydroxide is used in many
food processing applications, especially in the treatment of canned olives to
preserve their viability, and is used to remove skins from tomatoes, potatoes
and other vegetables and fruits used in canning, or as a preservative added to
foodstuffs to prevent the formation of mold or bacteria in foods.
6. Sodium hydroxide in wood and
paper products
Sodium hydroxide is used in the
paper industry so that the wood is treated with a solution of sodium sulfide
and sodium hydroxide, which dissolves all the unwanted solids in the wood and
leaves pure cellulose to form the paper.
It is also used in the process of
separating ink from paper, which allows the process of recycling used paper to
produce new papers.
7. Sodium hydroxide in aluminum
ore processing
Sodium hydroxide is used in
extracting alumina from natural minerals, so that alumina is used in the
manufacture of many metal products, such as: cooking utensils, barrels, and
spare parts.
Safety measures when using sodium hydroxide
Safety precautions should be
followed when using sodium hydroxide due to its hazardous effect on the body
when in contact. It can lead to:
Chemical burns may be permanent if
it comes into contact with human or animal tissues, so you must take the
necessary measures when using it and wear rubber gloves.
Blindness upon contact with the
eyes, so we advise you to put a protective eye on the eyes, i.e. wear safety
goggles.
The process of dissolving solid
sodium hydroxide is a highly heat-producing process that may burn or ignite
some of the surrounding materials.
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