Sodium Hydroxide Common Uses

Sodium Hydroxide common uses in industry as a chemical reagent, to make soap, and in cooking to treat some foods. This chemical is highly corrosive and is useful because of its ability to chemically alter fats in a process called saponification. Oils and fats contain a mixture of fatty acids that are bonded to a glycerol molecule to form triglycerides.

Sodium hydroxide breaks down the triglycerides and converts the acids into sodium salts, producing sodium tallowate and sodium palmitate. These salts are used as surfactants, substances that reduce the surface tension of liquids. They form small balls around fat particles, changing the hydrophobicity of the fats and allowing them to dissolve in water.

Modern soap making processes, although still based on a combination of strong alkalis such as sodium hydroxide and oil or fat, are unlikely to combine sodium hydroxide and fat directly because the soap produced would be too harsh.

Sodium Hydroxide Properties

The chemical is soluble in water, ethanol, and methanol, although it shows lower solubility in these solvents than potassium hydroxide. NaOH is insoluble in ether and other non-polar solvents. Sodium hydroxide solution leaves a yellow stain on fabrics and paper.

In the presence of moisture, sodium hydroxide can burn or corrode animal and plant tissue and, to some extent, metals. NaOH readily dissolves in water, alcohol, and glycerol, generating heat during dissolution. This compound is used in a wide range of processes.

For example, it regenerates acids in petroleum refining and is used in the food industry to peel fruits and vegetables. Some industries use it for etching.

Sodium hydroxide is also the most common reagent used in chemical laboratories because it can test for a large number of cations (called qualitative mineral analysis). It also provides alkali for reactions that require it, such as bioreactors.

Sodium Hydroxide physical and chemical properties

Chemical Formula: NaOH

Molecular Weight: 40.0

Melting Point: 318.4 °C

Boiling Point: 1390 °C

Specific Gravity: 2.13

Solubility: Soluble in water, ethanol and glycerol; insoluble in acetone and ether

General Characteristics: White solid

Sodium Hydroxide common uses in Industries

In this section of the article, we will introduce the uses of sodium hydroxide in industries.

General Uses of Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide common uses as the main strong base used in the chemical industry, which is mainly used in the form of an aqueous solution because the solutions are cheaper. This substance is used for chemical reactions and also to neutralize acidic substances. It can also be used as a neutralizing agent in oil refining.

Conducting experiments with caustic soda

Sodium hydroxide is used together with zinc for the famous “gold coins” experiment. A penny coin is boiled in a NaOH solution along with some granular zinc metal, the color of the coin turns silver in about 45 seconds. The coin is then held in the flame of a burner for a few seconds until it turns gold. The reason for this is that the granular zinc dissolves in NaOH and forms Zn (OH) 42-.

The resulting zinc ion on the surface of the copper penny coin is converted to metallic zinc. Zinc and copper form brass when heated in a flame.

Uses of Sodium Hydroxide in Chemical Analysis

In analytical chemistry, sodium hydroxide common uses as a solution is often used to measure the concentration of acids by titration. Since NaOH is not a primary standard, solutions must first be standardized by titration against a standard such as KHP. Burettes exposed to NaOH should be rinsed immediately after use to prevent "freezing" or glass formation.

Uses of Sodium Hydroxide in Soap Making

Soap making is the most traditional chemical process as sodium hydroxide common uses. The Arabs began producing soap in this way in the 7th century, and this early process is still used today.

Buy Sodium Hydroxide as Biodiesel

To produce biodiesel, sodium hydroxide common uses as a catalyst for the transesterification of methanol and triglycerides. This process only works with anhydrous sodium hydroxide, as it converts water and fat that has been contaminated with methanol into soap. Potassium hydroxide is more commonly used in this process because it is less expensive and requires less to achieve the same results. Another alternative is sodium silicate.

Using Sodium Hydroxide to Etch Aluminum

Strong bases such as NaOH attack aluminum. This process can be useful in abrading a surface or converting a polished surface to a satin-like finish, but without further stimulation such as anodizing or alodicizing the surface may corrode under normal or extreme atmospheric conditions.

Food Preparation with Caustic Soda

Food uses of NaOH include chemical washing or peeling of fruits and vegetables, processing chocolate and cocoa, producing caramel color, searing poultry, processing soft drinks, and thickening ice cream. Olives often require various seasonings to soften them, one of which is sodium hydroxide. Specific foods processed with NaOH include: Dried corn kernels, which are reconstituted by soaking in a sodium hydroxide solution. In this condition, they increase in size considerably and may be processed into corn kernels by frying in hot oil and salting. Sodium hydroxide also causes egg whites to gel for various applications.

Household Uses of Sodium Hydroxide

Liquid caustic is used in the home as a pipe unblocking agent, available as dry crystals or a thick liquid gel. The chemical mechanism used is to convert grease into a type of soap.

Sodium Hydroxide common uses as flake

Sodium hydroxide flake occurs as white, translucent, flat crystals that are highly absorbent. This form of sodium hydroxide is often considered industrial grade and is used in many industrial and manufacturing processes.

Sodium Hydroxide common uses as a strong chemical base in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, and detergents. Sodium hydroxide perk is also the most common base used in chemical laboratories, where it can test a large number of cations. Sodium Hydroxide common uses to provide alkaline environments for some reactions.

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