An Elementary Study of Chemistry

by William McPherson; William Edwards Henderson

This enters into double decomposition with the salt, as shown in the first equation under the Solvay process. After the sodium hydrogen carbonate has been precipitated the mother liquors containing ammonium chloride are treated with lime:

2NH₄Cl + CaO = CaCl₂ + 2 NH₃ + H₂O.

The lime is obtained by burning limestone:

CaCO₃ = CaO + CO₂.

The ammonia and carbon dioxide evolved in the latter two reactions are used in the preparation of an additional quantity of ammonium hydrogen carbonate. It will thus be seen that there is no loss of ammonia. The only materials permanently used up are calcium carbonate and salt, while the only waste product is calcium chloride.

Historical. In former times sodium carbonate was made by burning seaweeds and extracting the carbonate from their ash. On this account the salt was called soda ash, and the name is still in common use. During the French Revolution this supply was cut off, and in behalf of the French government Le Blanc made a study of methods of preparing the carbonate directly from salt. As a result he devised the method which bears his name, and which was used exclusively for many years. It has been replaced to a large extent by the Solvay process, which has the advantage that the materials used are inexpensive, and that the ammonium hydrogen carbonate used can be regenerated from the products formed in the process. Much expense is also saved in fuel, and the sodium hydrogen carbonate, which is the first product of the process, has itself many commercial uses. The Le Blanc process is still used, however, since the hydrochloric acid generated is of value.

By-products. The substances obtained in a given process, aside from the main product, are called the by-products. The success of many processes depends upon the value of the by-products formed.

Thus hydrochloric acid, a by-product in the Le Blanc process, is valuable enough to make the process pay, even though sodium carbonate can be made cheaper in other ways.

Properties of sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate forms large crystals of the formula Na₂CO₃ · 10 H₂O. It has a mild alkaline reaction and is used for laundry purposes under the name of washing soda. Mere mention of the fact that it is used in the manufacture of glass, soap, and many chemical reagents will indicate its importance in the industries. It is one of the few soluble carbonates.