Question

Name a metal whose carbonate is known as washing soda.

Answer 1

We know that the application of washing soda is very wide from households to the household to a vast range of industries. It is a basic compound which has the capacity of removal of stains from clothes.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s discuss the washing soda in detail. Washing soda is a compound of sodium metal. Its chemical formula is ${\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{3}}}{\rm{.10}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}}$. It is also called as hydrated salt of sodium carbonate or soda ash. It is a white colored crystalline solid. It exists as monohydrated, anhydrated, heptahydrate and deca hydrated salt. Its nature is basic.

Hence, the metal whose carbonate is known as washing soda is sodium.

Additional Information:
Let’s discuss the Solvay process of preparation of washing soda (sodium carbonate).
There are four steps in the process.
Step 1: In this step brine is purified by evaporation and removal of impurities such as calcium, magnesium is done by the process of precipitation. Then the concentrated brine solution is filtered and mixed with ammonia.
Step 2: In this step carbon dioxide is passed through an ammoniated solution of brine.
${\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{3}}} + {\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}} + {\rm{NaCl}} + {{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}} \to {\rm{NaHC}}{{\rm{O}}_3} + {\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{4}}}{\rm{Cl}}$
Step 3: In this step sodium bicarbonate is heated to obtain sodium carbonate.
$2{\rm{NaHC}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{3}}} \to {\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{3}}} + {\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}} + {{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}}$
Step 4: In this step ammonia is recovered by treating ammonium chloride with calcium hydroxide. The obtained ammonia is again used in the Solvay process.
$2{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{4}}}{\rm{Cl}} + {\rm{Ca}}{\left( {{\rm{OH}}} \right)_{\rm{2}}} \to 2{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{3}}} + {\rm{CaC}}{{\rm{l}}_{\rm{2}}} + {{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}}$

Note: Some of the important uses of washing soda are it is used in textile, soap, paper and detergent industries. It is also used in production of glass. Its use is also found in the laundries. It has an important role in water softening.