Chemical Properties
Soluble in water; less alkaline than
sodium carbonate. Noncombustible.
Sodium Sesquicarbonate is a white crystalline solid in either flake or powder form, known also as trona and urao. It dissolves rapidly and completely in water, and its solutions are alkaline (0.1 M aqueous solution, pH 10.1).
Uses
Detergent and soap builder, mild alkaline agent
for general cleaning and water softening, bath crys-
tals, alkaline agent in leather tanning, food additive.
Hazard
Irritant to tissue.
Flammability and Explosibility
Non flammable
Synthesis
Sodium Sesquicarbonate occurs naturally as trona ore and is produced via a double refining process; it is also prepared by partial carbonation of a soda ash solution, followed by crystallization, centrifugation, and drying. The soda ash solution undergoing crystallization contains equimolar quantities of Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Bicarbonate. Sodium Sesquicarbonate has been widely produced from Sodium Carbonate and a slight excess of Sodium Bicarbonate.
It was synthesized by equimolar sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water and then recrystallized.
