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Sodium hydroxide is one of the compounds found in the family of inorganic compounds. At room temperature, the compound is generally found as a white solid. Sodium hydroxide is made of hydroxide OH− anions and sodium Na+ cations. The chemical formula of sodium hydroxide is NaOH, also popularly known as Lye or caustic soda and is commonly used to manufacture a variety of products such as oven cleaners, liquid drain, explosives, pulp, detergents, soap, and paper. Sodium hydroxide is the simplest form of hydroxide. Because of its traits, it is commonly used with HCL acid and neutral water to find the pH scale.

What are the Properties of Sodium Hydroxide?

Physical Properties

  • Sodium hydroxide is odorless.
  • Sodium hydroxide can also exist in liquid form.
  • It can absorb water and carbon dioxide from the air very rapidly.
  • It can form many hydrates. Some known hydrates are Monohydrate, Dihydrate, Trihydrate, Trihemihydrate, Heptahydrate, Tetrahydrate, Tetrahydrate, and Pentahydrate.
  • It is soluble in ethanol, glycerol, and water. When water is mixed with solid sodium hydroxide, it results in a highly exothermic reaction.
  • Water crystalline solid is the purest form of sodium hydroxide.

Chemical Properties

  • A covalent bond exists between Hydrogen and Oxygen in the hydroxide.
  • It is a commonly used base; it is used for leaching amphoteric oxides or hydroxide.
  • Sodium hydroxide has a high acidity of about 13.
  • There is an ionic bond between the OH- ion and Na+ ion.
  • It can react with protic acids to form salts and water.

Compounds of Sodium

Sodium is frequently and readily reacted with other elements to form useful compounds. There form water-soluble compounds like carbonates, carboxylates, nitrate, sulfate, and halides. However, various insoluble sodium compounds can be only found in nature, like sodium uranate, sodium thio platinate, Sodium Octamolybdate, and Sodium Bismuthate.

Zinc with Sodium Hydroxide

When zinc is combined with sodium hydroxide, i.e., Zn (s) + NaOH, it gives sodium zincate along with hydrogen gas. When zinc reacts with excess sodium hydroxide, sodium zincate with hydrogen gas is produced. Zinc is a transition metal that shows mild reactivity. As zinc is amphoteric, it forms sodium zincate with NaOH when it interacts with the evolution of the hydrogen gas. These reactions happen at a temperature of 550 °C. It is an endothermic reaction.

The equation of the reaction is

Zn + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 + H2

2Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 + 3H2O

What are the Uses of Sodium Hydroxide?

NaOH is a chemical compound that is used in many situations. Some of its most popular uses are listed below.

  • Sodium hydroxide is used in the production of soaps.
  • It is used for producing pulp for paper.
  • Sodium hydroxide is a vital laboratory chemical.
  • It is used in the production of various other chemicals.
  • Sodium hydroxide is often used in the textile industry.
  • It is an essential component in water treatment.
  • It is used in making glass.
  • Sodium hydroxide is used to precipitate transition metal hydroxides.
  • Sodium hydroxide is also used for the base-driven hydrolysis of alkyl halides and esters and amides.

Conclusion

Sodium hydroxide is an inorganic compound generally found in a white solid at room temperature. Made of hydroxide OH− anions and sodium Na+ cations, the chemical formula of sodium hydroxide is NaOH. It is popularly known as Lye or caustic soda and is commonly used in manufacturing products like oven cleaners, liquid drain, explosives, pulp, detergents, soap, and paper. Sodium readily reacts with other elements to form useful compounds; some of its known hydrates are Monohydrate, Dihydrate, Trihydrate, Trihemihydrate, Heptahydrate, Tetrahydrate, Tetrahydrate, and Pentahydrate.