2.4.3 Chemicals from Common Salt · Part 3

be obtained by heating baking soda; recrystallisation of sodium carbonate gives washing soda. It is also a basic salt. Na CO H O Na CO H O Sodium carbonate . ( ) What does 10H O signify? Does it make Na CO wet? We will address this question in the next section. Sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogencarbonate are useful chemicals for many industrial processes as well. Uses of washing soda (i) Sodium carbonate (washing soda) is used in glass, soap and paper industries. (ii) It is used in the manufacture of sodium compounds such as borax. (iii) Sodium carbonate can be used as a cleaning agent for domestic purposes. (iv) It is used for removing permanent hardness of water.