Question

The Solvay process is a multistep industrial process used to produce washing soda, Na2CO3(s). In the last step of the Solvay process, NaHCO3(s) is heated to 300°C, producing washing soda, water, and carbon dioxide. This reaction is represented by the balanced equation below.

2NaHCO3(s) + heat ==> Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)

Write the IUPAC name for washing soda.

Answer 1

Its IUPAC name is sodium carbonate. It is also known as soda ash. It is the water soluble sodium salt of carbonic acid and occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate. Sodium carbonate has an alkaline taste and when in solution forms a basic solution. One important application is that it is used commonly as a water softener.