Question

(a) Describe how washing soda is produced starting from sodium chloride (common salt). Write equations of all the reactions involved.

(b) State whether an aqueous solution of washing soda is acidic or alkaline ? Give reason for your answer.

(c) What is meant by saying that washing soda has detergent properties ?

(d) Give two important uses of washing soda (or sodium carbonate).

Answer 1

A. NaCl + $N{H}_3$+ $C{O}_2$+ $H_{2}O$ ---- $N{H}_{4}Cl$ +$NaHC{O}_3$
$NaHC{O}_3$ -------$N{a}_{2}C{O}_3$ +$H_{2}O$ + $C{O}_2$
$N{a}_{2}C{O}_3$ + 10 $H_{2}O$ -----$N{a}_{2}C{O}_3.10H_{2}O$

2. It dissolve in water to form alkaline it is soluble in soluble which turn red litmus solution blue. It is basic because because it is a salt of strong base NaOH and weak acid $H_{2}C{O}_3$. Thus it is weakly basic in nature.

3.Washing Soda has detergent or cleansing properties because it can remove dirt and grease from dirty clothes. How it cleanse the clothes? Washing soda attacks dirt and grease to form water soluble products, which are then washed away on rinsing with water.

4. a. It is used for removing permanent hardness of water
b. It is the most important agent in laundries.