Sodium carbonate

Absorption

The uptake of sodium, via exposure to sodium carbonate, is much less than the uptake of sodium via food. Therefore, sodium carbonate is not expected to be systemically available in the body. Furthermore, an oral uptake of sodium carbonate will result in a neutralization in the stomach due to the gastric acid.

Toxicity

Man: LD50 (Oral) - 714 mg/kg, Effect: Behavioural,General Anesthetic : GI Ulceration or Bleeding from small intestine. Mouse : LC50 ( Inhalation ) - 1200mg/m3/2h : GI Other Change Mouse : LC50 ( Intraperitoneal ) - 117mg/kg Mouse : LD50 ( Oral) - 6600mg/kg Mouse : LD50 (Subcutaneous ) - 2210 mg/kg Rat : LC50 ( Inhalation ) 2300mg/m3/2H Rat: LD50 (Oral) - 4090 mg/kg

Description

Sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash or washing soda, is a widely used inorganic compound. It is primarily obtained naturally from trona, a sodium carbonate-bicarbonate mineral. Major deposits of trona are found in Wyoming, Egypt’s Nile Valley, and California. Soda ash is produced by crushing and heating trona ore, then purifying the resulting mixture through dissolving and filtering processes.

Description

Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is a moderately strong base used commonly in organic chemistry. It is regularly employed as the base of choice for palladium catalyzed reactions such as Suzuki couplings. Sodium carbonate is also used for other reactions that require a base to neutralize acids that form during reactions. For example, alkylation reactions often employ sodium carbonate to mop up protons (acid) that forms during the reaction.

The Uses of Sodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate is an alkali that appears as crystals or crystalline powder and dissolves easily in water. It serves multiple functions, including as an antioxidant, curing and pickling agent, flavoring agent, processing aid, sequestrant, and pH control agent. It is used in instant soups to neutralize acidity and in alginate water dessert gels to sequester calcium, allowing the alginate to dissolve. It is also used in puddings, sauces, and baked goods.

What are the applications of Application

Sodium carbonate, anhydrous is used in chromatography and protein isolation techniques

Indications

Used topically for dermatitides, mouthwash, vaginal douche; veterinary use as emergency emetic.Occasionally, for dermatitides topically as a lotion. Medication (Vet): In solution to cleanse skin, in eczema, to soften scabs of ringworm.

Background

Sodium Carbonate is the disodium salt of carbonic acid with alkalinizing property. When dissolved in water, sodium carbonate forms carbonic acid and sodium hydroxide. As a strong base, sodium hydroxide neutralizes gastric acid thereby acting as an antacid.

Production Methods

Sodium carbonate is produced globally from its minerals, with significant deposits found in Africa and the United States as carbonate or trona, a mixed ore of carbonate and bicarbonate. About 70% of global production is made via the Solvay process, where ammonia is added to a sodium chloride solution, and carbon dioxide is bubbled through to precipitate bicarbonate, which is then decomposed by heat to produce sodium carbonate. In the United States, production is solely based on minerals containing sodium carbonate. Different grades of sodium carbonate are produced, including technical, food, and pharmaceutical grades.