What is soda ash?

Scientific name sodium carbonate, also known as soda, alkali ash, an important basic chemical raw material, the main product of the soda industry. Usually white powder, easy to decompose at high temperature, easily soluble in water, aqueous solution is alkaline. Sodium carbonate and water generate Na2CO3 • 10H2O, Na2CO3 • 7H2O, Na2CO3 • H2O three hydrates. Among them, Na2CO3 • H2O is stable, and the heat of dissolution in water is very small. It is mostly used in the photographic industry. The product name is carbon dioxide. Na2CO3 • 10H2O is also known as crystalline alkali or washing alkali. When dissolved in water, it exhibits an endothermic reaction and is easily weathered in the air. Na2CO3 • 7H2 O is unstable and can be precipitated from a saturated solution of sodium carbonate only in the range of 32.5 ～ 36 ℃. Chemical formula: Na2CO3