Sodium hydroxide, known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH.
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34 Facts About Sodium hydroxide
2.
Sodium hydroxide is used in many industries: in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, soaps and detergents, and as a drain cleaner.
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3.
Similar to the hydration of sulfuric acid, dissolution of solid sodium hydroxide in water is a highly exothermic reaction where a large amount of heat is liberated, posing a threat to safety through the possibility of splashing.
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4.
The viscosity of sodium hydroxide solutions plays a direct role in its application as well as its storage.
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5.
Sodium hydroxide reacts with protic acids to produce water and the corresponding salts.
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6.
For example, when sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride is formed:.
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7.
However, sodium hydroxide is not used as a primary standard because it is hygroscopic and absorbs carbon dioxide from air.
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8.
Unlike sodium hydroxide, which is soluble, the hydroxides of most transition metals are insoluble, and therefore sodium hydroxide can be used to precipitate transition metal hydroxides.
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9.
Aluminium Sodium hydroxide is used as a gelatinous flocculant to filter out particulate matter in water treatment.
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10.
Aluminium hydroxide is prepared at the treatment plant from aluminium sulfate by reacting it with sodium hydroxide or bicarbonate.
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11.
Sodium hydroxide can be used for the base-driven hydrolysis of esters, amides and alkyl halides.
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12.
Solid sodium hydroxide is obtained from this solution by the evaporation of water.
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13.
Solid sodium hydroxide is most commonly sold as flakes, prills, and cast blocks.
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14.
Sodium hydroxide is produced by combining pure sodium metal with water.
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15.
Sodium hydroxide is a popular strong base used in industry.
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16.
Sodium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of sodium salts and detergents, pH regulation, and organic synthesis.
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17.
Sodium hydroxide is used in many scenarios where it is desirable to increase the alkalinity of a mixture, or to neutralize acids.
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18.
Poor quality crude oil can be treated with sodium hydroxide to remove sulfurous impurities in a process known as caustic washing.
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19.
Sodium hydroxide is widely used in pulping of wood for making paper or regenerated fibers.
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20.
Sodium hydroxide is frequently used in the process of decomposing roadkill dumped in landfills by animal disposal contractors.
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21.
Sodium hydroxide is a dangerous chemical due to its ability to hydrolyze protein.
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22.
Sodium hydroxide reacts with aluminium and water to release hydrogen gas.
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23.
Manufacture of biodiesel, sodium hydroxide is used as a catalyst for the transesterification of methanol and triglycerides.
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24.
Food uses of sodium hydroxide include washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables, chocolate and cocoa processing, caramel coloring production, poultry scalding, soft drink processing, and thickening ice cream.
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25.
Sodium hydroxide is frequently used as an industrial cleaning agent where it is often called "caustic".
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26.
Parts washer detergents based on sodium hydroxide are some of the most aggressive parts washer cleaning chemicals.
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27.
Sodium hydroxide used in this manner replaced many solvent-based systems in the early 1990s when trichloroethane was outlawed by the Montreal Protocol.
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28.
Sodium hydroxide is used in the home as a type of drain opener to unblock clogged drains, usually in the form of a dry crystal or as a thick liquid gel.
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29.
Sodium hydroxide relaxers are still available, but they are used mostly by professionals.
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30.
Sodium hydroxide is sometimes used during water purification to raise the pH of water supplies.
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31.
Sodium hydroxide has been used for detection of carbon monoxide poisoning, with blood samples of such patients turning to a vermilion color upon the addition of a few drops of sodium hydroxide.
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32.
Sodium hydroxide is mildly corrosive to glass, which can cause damage to glazing or cause ground glass joints to bind.
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33.
Sodium hydroxide is corrosive to several metals, like aluminium which reacts with the alkali to produce flammable hydrogen gas on contact:.
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34.
Sodium hydroxide must be stored in airtight containers to preserve its normality as it will absorb water from the atmosphere.
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