Question

how baking soda and washing soda manufactured?

Answer 1

WASHING SODA

       The chemical name of washing soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, and its chemical formula is Na2CO3.10H2O. So washing soda is hydrated salt of sodium carbonate containing 10 molecules of water of crystallization. But the anhydrous sodium carbonate which doesn’t have any molecule of water of crystallization is commonly known as ‘soda ash’.

       Sodium carbonate occurs in crude forms in East Africa, Egypt, USA etc. In India it occurs in Dehradun, Mathura, Jaunpur, Varanasi, etc. About 1.54 million tons of soda ash (anhydrous sodium carbonate) is produced in India every year.

Properties of Washing Soda

Washing soda is a transparent crystalline solid.
Washing soda is soluble in water
The aqueous solution of Washing soda is alkaline in nature i.e. it converts red litmus paper into blue.
Washing Properties:- Washing soda is used as a detergent for washing the clothes because it can attack on the dirt and grease particles present in dirty clothes to remove them.
Reaction with Water:- Washing soda decomposes into ions when dissolved in water to produce alkaline solution.

        Na2CO3            2Na+      +      CO32– 

         2H2O            2H+      +      2OH–

2Na+ + CO32– + 2H+ + 2OH–        2NaOH + H2CO3 

The ionic solution of washing soda is alkaline in nature due to the presence of OH- ions in it.
Action of Air:- Washing soda crystals are when exposed to air then 9 molecules of water of crystallization evaporates leaving behind sodium carbonate monohydrate which is in the form of white powder. 

Na2CO3.10H2O          NaCO3.H2O    +    9H2O
Washing soda                              Sodium carbonate      Water
                                                        decahydrate 

Efflorescence or Dehydration

       The loss of water of crystallization from the hydrated salt of washing soda to the environment, on keeping it exposed to air, is called efflorescence.
Action of Heat:- When the crystals of washing soda are heated strongly then all the water of crystallization evaporates leaving behind anhydrous sodium carbonate.

Na2CO3.10H2O          NaCO3      +      10H2O
Washing soda                           Sodium carbonate       Water

BAKING SODA

       The chemical formula of baking soda is NaHCO3. The chemical name of baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate.

Manufacture of baking soda

       The baking soda can be manufactured on commercial scale by Solvay’s process. The manufacture of sodium carbonate by Solvay process includes many steps which are discussed below:

1. Saturation of sodium chloride with ammonia

       First of all a cold and concentrated solution of sodium chloride called brine is saturated with ammonia to get a solution called ammoniacal brine.

2. Carbonation

       In the second step the ammoniacal brine prepared in first step is dropped from the top of a tower called carbonating tower and carbon dioxide gas is passed into the tower from near its base. The carbonating tower has partitions which are made up of iron plates with hole in the center and covered with perforated plate. The function of these partitions is to slow down the down coming ammoniacal brine solution so that the upcoming carbon dioxide has enough time to react with it completely.

       So as the ammoniacal brine comes down from the top of the carbonating tower, it reacts with carbon dioxide to form precipitates of baking soda or sodium hydrogen carbonate:

Properties of Baking Soda

Baking soda is a white crystalline powder which is sparingly soluble in water.
The aqueous solution of baking soda is mildly alkaline in nature.
Action of heat:- On heating, sodium bicarbonate decomposes to form sodium carbonate as given below:

Answer 2

Answer: The chemical equations for the manufacturing of baking soda and washing soda is given below.

Explanation:

• For Washing soda:

Another name of washing soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate.

The chemical equation for the formation of washing soda follows:

$Na_2CO_3+10H_2O\rightarrow Na_2CO_3.10H_2O$

These $10H_2O$ molecules are known as the water of crystallization which changes the chemical properties of the substance.

• For Baking soda:

Another name of baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate.

When sodium chloride reacts with ammonia in the presence of carbon dioxide and water, it leads to the formation of baking soda and ammonium chloride.

The chemical equation for the formation of washing soda follows:

$NaCl+NH_3+CO_2+H_2O\rightarrow NaHCO_3+NH_4Cl$

Hence, the chemical equations for the manufacturing of baking soda and washing soda is given above.