Sodium carbonate

Other names: Sodium carbonate, Washing soda, Washing soda

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda or washing soda, is a chemical compound with the formula Na2CO3. This white, crystalline substance is highly soluble in water and has a wide range of uses in various industries. It feels soapy to the touch and is therefore sometimes referred to as baking soda.

Washing soda is mainly used in industry as a raw material for glass production, where it makes up to 15 % of the composition of most types of glass. It is also used as a component of detergents and cleaning agents, where it is mainly used for its alkaline properties. In the food industry, sodium carbonate is used as an acidity regulator or as one of the ingredients in raising powders. Sodium carbonate is also used in the paper industry, where it is part of the bleaching process for fibreboard, but is usually produced on site as it needs to be used immediately after production. In medicine, it is used to neutralise acid in the stomach to treat heartburn.