Soda Ash

Subject – Science and Tech

Context – ‘Focus on renewable energy to drive soda ash demand’

Concept –

Soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), is an alkali chemical refined from the mineral trona or naturally occurring sodium carbonate-bearing brines (both referred to as natural soda ash), the mineral nahcolite (referred to as natural sodium bicarbonate, from which soda ash can be produced), or manufactured from one of several chemical processes (referred to as synthetic soda ash).
All forms are white, odourless, water-soluble salts that yield moderately alkaline solutions in water.
Historically, it was extracted from the ashes of plants growing in sodium-rich soils. Because the ashes of these sodium-rich plants were noticeably different from ashes of wood (once used to produce potash), sodium carbonate became known as “soda ash”.
It is produced in large quantities from sodium chloride and limestone by the Solvay process.
Increased demand for flat glass caused by these drivers is one large contributing factor towards overall soda ash demand growth and one of the reasons for a sustained upward firmness in soda ash prices

Applications

Sodium carbonate (or washing soda) is used as a cleansing agent for domestic purposes like washing clothes. Sodium carbonate is a component of many dry soap powders.
It is used for removing temporary and permanent hardness of water.
It is used in the manufacture of glass, soap and paper.
It is used in the manufacture of sodium compounds like borax.