Important compounds of alkali metals:
Sodium carbonate is one of the important inorganic
compounds used in industries. It is prepared by Solvay process. In this
process, ammonia is converted into ammonium carbonate which then converted to
ammonium bicarbonate by passing excess carbon dioxide in a sodium chloride
solution saturated with ammonia. The ammonium bicarbonate thus formed reacts
with the sodium chloride to give sodium bicarbonate and ammonium chloride. As
sodium bicarbonate has poor solubility, it gets precipitated. The sodium
bicarbonate is isolated and is heated to give sodium carbonate. The equations
involved in this process are,
2NH3 + H2O + CO2 → (NH4)2CO3
(NH4)2CO3 + H2O
+ CO2 → 2 NH4HCO3
2 NH4HCO3 + NaCl → NH4Cl + NaHCO3
2 NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
The ammonia used in this process can be recovered by
treating the resultant ammonium chloride solution with calcium hydroxide.
Calcium chloride is formed as a by-product.
Sodium carbonate, commonly known as washing soda,
crystallises as decahydrate which is white in colour. It is soluble in water
and forms an alkaline solution. Upon heating, it looses the water of
crystallisation to form monohydrate. Above 373 K, the monohydrate becomes
completely anhydrous and changes to a white powder called soda ash.
Na2CO3·10H2O → Na2CO3·H2O + 9H2O
Na2CO3·H2O → Na2CO3 + H2O
i. Sodium carbonate known as washing soda is used heavily for laundering
ii. It is an important laboratory reagent used in the qualitative analysis and in volumetric analysis.
iii. It is also used in water treatment to convert the hard water to soft water
iv. It is used in the manufacturing of glass, paper, paint
etc...
Sodium chloride is isolated by evaporation from sea water
which contains 2.7 to 2.9% by mass. Approximately 50 lakh tons of salt are
produced annually in India by solar evaporation. Crude sodium chloride can be
obtained by crystallisation of brine solution which contains sodium sulphate,
calcium sulphate, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride as impurities. Pure
sodium chloride can be obtained from crude salt as follows. Firstly removal of
insoluble impurities by filtration from the crude salt solution with minimum
amount of water. Sodium chloride can be crystallised by passing HCl gas into
this solution. Calcium and magnesium chloride, being more soluble than sodium
chloride, remain in solution.
Sodium chloride melts at 1081K. It has a solubility of
36.0 g in 100 g of water at 273 K. The solubility does not increase appreciably
with increase in temperature.
i) It is used as a common salt or table salt for domestic purpose.
ii) It is used for the preparation of many inorganic
compounds such as NaOH and Na2CO3
Sodium hydroxide is prepared commercially by the
electrolysis of brine solution in Castner-Kellner cell using a mercury cathode
and a carbon anode. Sodium metal is discharged at the cathode and combines with
mercury to form sodium amalgam. Chlorine gas is evolved at the anode. The
sodium amalgam thus obtained is treated with water to give sodium hydroxide.
At cathode : Na+ + e– → Na(amalgam)
At anode : Cl– → ½ Cl2 ↑+ e–
2Na(amalgam)+2H2O2NaOH+2Hg+H2↑
Sodium hydroxide is a white, translucent and deliquescent
solid, that dissolves in water to give a strong alkaline solution. It melts at
591 K. The sodium hydroxide solution at the surface reacts with the CO2
in the atmosphere to form Na2CO3
· Sodium hydroxide is used as a laboratory reagent
· It is also used in the purification of bauxite and petroleum refining
· It is used in the textile industries for mercerising cotton fabrics
·
It is used in the manufacture of soap, paper, artificial
silk and a number of chemicals
Sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate is used in
backing cakes pastries etc. It is called so because it decomposes on heating to
generate bubbles of carbon dioxide, leaving holes in cakes or pastries and
making them light and fluffy. This compound is prepared by saturating a solution
of sodium carbonate with carbon dioxide. The white crystalline powder of sodium
bicarbonate, being less soluble, precipitated out.
·
Primarily used as an ingredient in backing.
·
Sodium hydrogen carbonate is a mild antiseptic for skin
infections.
·
It is also used in fire extinguishers.
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