Question

State what would you observe when: Washing soda crystals are exposed to atmosphere.

Answer 1

Solution:

• Reactant: Soda crystals (Na₂CO₃.10H₂O)
• Washing soda crystals are efflorescent in nature and when they are exposed to the atmosphere, they lose their water of crystallization, and become monohydrate.
• The chemical equation is:
• ${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3.10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3.{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+9{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$
• Observation: After losing the water of crystallization, the washing soda becomes anhydrous and crumbles to become powder.