Question

When you buy washing soda from the market, you will get it in powder form because:

• A. the crystals of washing soda quickly lose water molecules
• B. the shop keeper prefers to powder the crystals
• C. washing soda does not form crystals
• D. washing soda is a drying agent

Answer 1

The correct option is A the crystals of washing soda quickly lose water molecules

The chemical formula of washing soda is $N{a}_{2}C{O}_3.10H_{2}O$. When sodium carbonate crystals are exposed to air they loose water of crystallization and turn to white powder.

$N{a}_{2}C{O}_3.10H_{2}O\to N{a}_{2}C{O}_3+10H_{2}O$

The process of loosing water of crystallization is called efflorescence.

Thus, we get white powder of wahsing soda when we buy it from market.