Sodium hydroxide

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Sodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide (lat. Natrii hydroxidum; other names — caustic soda, caustic, caustic soda, caustic alkali) is the most common alkali, chemical formula NaOH. A year in the world produces and consumes about 57 million tons of caustic soda.

Sodium hydroxide is a white solid substance. Strongly hygroscopic, air "breaks", actively absorbing water vapor from the air. Highly soluble in water, it releases large the amount of heat. Solution of sodium hydroxide is soapy to the touch.

Sodium hydroxide (caustic lye) — a strong chemical base (the strong bases include the hydroxides, molecules which completely dissociate in water), these include the hydroxides of alkaline and alkaline earth metals of subgroups Ia and IIA of the periodic system D. I. Mendeleev, KOH (potassium hydroxide) Ba(OH)2 (caustic barytes), LiOH, RbOH, CsOH, and the monovalent thallium hydroxide TlOH. Alkalinity (basicity) is determined the valence of the metal, the radius of outer electronic shell and electrochemical activity: the larger the radius of the electron shell (with increased sequence number number), the easier the metal gives electrons, and the higher its electrochemical activity and the left is the element in the electrochemical series activity of metals, where the zero is accepted the activity of hydrogen.

Sodium hydroxide can be obtained as industry chemical and electrochemical methods.

Caustic soda is used in many industries and for domestic purposes:

Caustic is used in the pulp and paper industry for delignification (sulfate process) pulp, production of paper, cardboard, synthetic fibres, wood-fiber boards.

For the saponification of fats in the production soap, shampoo and other detergents. Currently, products based on sodium hydroxide (adding potassium hydroxide) heated to 50-60 °C, used in the field of industrial washing system for cleaning of stainless steel products from grease and other oily substances and machining residues.

In chemical industries industry to neutralize acids and acidic oxides as the reagent or a catalyst in chemical reactions, in chemical analysis for the titration, for etching of aluminum and in the production of pure metals, in oil refining — for the production of oils.

For the production of biodiesel fuel derived from vegetable oils and used to replace ordinary diesel fuel. To obtain biodiesel by nine mass units of vegetable oil added to one mass unit of alcohol (that is, the observed ratio 9:1) and alkaline catalyst (NaOH). The resulting live (mostly linoleic acid) has good Flammability, provide high cetane number. The cetane number of the conditional quantitative characteristic samovosplameneniem of diesel fuel in the cylinder (similar to octane number for gasoline). If the mineral diesel fuel characteristic record in 50-52 %, the methyl ester is initially corresponds to 56-58 % cetena. Raw materials for the production of biodiesel can be various vegetable oils: rapeseed, soy, except those in which a high content of palmitic acid (palm oil). In the production process of esterification also glycerol is formed which is used in the food, cosmetic and paper industry, or processed into epichlorohydrin according to the method of Solvay.

As the agent for dissolving blockage of drains in the form of dry granules or in the composition of the gels. Sodium hydroxide disaggregates the blockage and allows for easy promotion further down the pipe.

In civil defense for degassing and neutralization of chemical agents, including sarin, in rebreather (self-contained breathing apparatus (IDA), for the purification of exhaled air from carbon dioxide.

In the textile industry for mercerizing cotton and wool. During a short-term treatment of sodium hydroxide with rinsed fiber gains strength and silky luster.

Sodium hydroxide is also used for cleaning molds of the tires.

In food preparation: wash and peeling fruits and vegetables from the skin, in the manufacture of chocolate and cocoa, beverages, ice cream, caramel colouring, to soften the olives and give them a black painting, the manufacture of bakery products. Registered as food additive E-524. Some dishes are prepared with the use of caustic soda:

In cosmetology for the removal of keratinized areas of the skin, warts, papillomas.

In photography — as accelerating the stuff in developers for high-speed processing of photographic materials.

Sodium hydroxide is corrosive and corrosive agent. It refers to the substances of the second class danger. So working with them requires caution. When contact with skin, mucous membranes and eyes are serious chemical burns. When working with sodium hydroxide, we recommend the following protective measures: chemical splash goggles for eye protection, rubber gloves, or gloves with rubberized surface for hand protection, body protection — chemical resistant clothing, impregnated vinyl or rubber suits.

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