Question

Anhydrous sodium carbonate is commonly known as
(A) Baking soda
(B) Washing soda
(C) Chalk
(D) Paris white

Answer 1

It is an alkaline substance that is used for household cleaning, water softening etc. Solvay process is well known for the synthesis of this compound.

Complete step by step solution:
- Sodium carbonate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula $N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$.It exists in both hydrous and anhydrous forms.
- Hydrous sodium carbonate contains water molecules. It has two forms. One is Sodium carbonate decahydrate ($N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}.10{{H}_{2}}O$) and the other one is sodium carbonate monohydrate$N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}.{{H}_{2}}O$ ($N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}.{{H}_{2}}O$).
- As we know, anhydrous sodium carbonate has no water molecules. It's just $N{{a}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$.
- When the hydrated sodium carbonate is strongly heated, it decomposes into water and anhydrous sodium carbonate.
- This anhydrous sodium carbonate is commonly known as washing soda. It is also called soda ash and soda crystals.
- Sodium carbonate is water-soluble and when it is dissolved in water carbonic acid and $NaOH$ is formed.
- Sodium carbonate is a strong base with pH = 10.5.
- It is manufactured by different methods and the most famous one is the Solvay process. In this process carbon dioxide and ammonia is passed into a cold saturated solution of $NaCl$.
The answer is option (B). Anhydrous sodium carbonate is commonly known as washing soda.

Additional Information:
Sodium carbonate has numerous applications such as in the manufacture of glass, paper, rayon, detergents and used for water softening, as food additive etc.

Note: There is a higher possibility for error since options seem confusing. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate($NaHC{{O}_{3}}$), chalk is calcium carbonate($CaC{{O}_{3}}$) and paris white or plaster of paris is calcium sulfate($CaS{{O}_{4}}.\dfrac{1}{2}{{H}_{2}}O$) .