Caustic soda, use for drain cleaning, household alkali, caustic soda

Important: the drug has a second hazard class ; if it comes into contact with the skin, it causes burns and ulcers; ingestion will lead to severe poisoning. Therefore, when working it is necessary to use a protective mask and gloves. If soda gets on the skin, it should be washed with plenty of water , and if taken orally, consult a doctor immediately .

Household use

Despite the second class of danger, caustic soda can be used on the farm (subject to appropriate safety measures).

Pipe cleaning

Caustic soda , also known as sodium hydroxide, caustic soda or sodium hydroxide, is a product of the chemical industry, has the appearance of flaked white granules without a distinct odor.
Caustic is used in the automotive, medicine, oil, gas, and chemical industries. Thanks to its properties, caustic has found its application in everyday life. Important: the drug has a second hazard class ; if it comes into contact with the skin, it causes burns and ulcers; ingestion will lead to severe poisoning. Therefore, when working it is necessary to use a protective mask and gloves. If soda gets on the skin, it should be washed with plenty of water , and if taken orally, consult a doctor immediately .

What is the danger

According to the European classification, caustic soda is included in the second group in terms of danger level and is characterized as a caustic or corrosive substance.

She is capable of:

cause severe chemical burns;
cause irritation of the cornea or skin;
injure the respiratory tract;
cause metal corrosion.

Important. If timely assistance is not provided, contact of caustic alkali on mucous membranes or skin can cause irreversible consequences, such as blindness.

To avoid the negative effects of a substance on the body, you need to protect yourself.

Household use

Despite the second class of danger, caustic soda can be used on the farm (subject to appropriate safety measures).

Pipe cleaning

Using caustic soda to clean drains gives very good results. The alkali will help not only deal with the blockage, but also remove unpleasant odors in the toilet and bathroom. Application methods are as follows:

Pour half a glass of caustic into the drain hole, carefully pour a glass of boiling water on top and leave for at least two hours. After the specified time, rinse the drains with plenty of water.
Pour two hundred grams of soda into the hole, add the same amount of white vinegar, leave for three hours, rinse thoroughly with boiling water. This flushing method is used for severe, old clogs.
Pour two kilograms of caustic into a bucket of boiling water, mix, pour sodium hydroxide and water directly into the drain hole. After three hours, clean the pipes with water.

Important: do not pour soda directly onto the enamel surface of the bathtub, as this may damage the enamel.

Use when washing

Soda can be used when washing; it softens water well and removes various stains. Use caustic soda solution only for washing linen and cotton items ; washing silk, wool and other fabrics that require careful handling is not recommended. To prepare the solution in a five-liter container, you need to dilute five tablespoons of soda and mix. Dry laundry is dipped into the solution, left for two hours, and then washed with powder or soap .
When washing in a machine, two spoons of the product are added to the washing powder compartment. Important: after using caustic soda, things must be rinsed thoroughly.

Cleaning kitchen utensils

Carbon deposits and old fat can be removed from steel and cast iron cookware using alkali. You will need the following ingredients:

Soda - 200 g.
Water - 10 liters.
Silicate glue or liquid glass - 150 ml.
Laundry soap - one bar.

Preparation of the solution: pour water into a container, add soda, glue or liquid glass, grated washing soap, mix everything thoroughly. The dishes are dipped into the washing solution, the container is placed on the fire and boiled over low heat for two hours, after which you need to wait until it cools completely. Rinse the cleaned dishes well under running water.

Important: aluminum and Teflon cannot be washed with caustic soda; calcined salt is used for such dishes. The difference between them is that calcined salt is much less active and will not damage the dishes.

Carbon deposits and old fat can be removed from steel and cast iron cookware using alkali. You will need the following ingredients:

Soda - 200 g.
Water - 10 liters.
Silicate glue or liquid glass - 150 ml.
Laundry soap - one bar.

Application on a personal plot

Sodium hydroxide is also useful in private households.

The solution will help disinfect greenhouses , cellars, cages and all rooms where farm animals were kept. To do this, dissolve ten tablespoons of the product in ten liters of hot water and thoroughly rinse the buildings with the resulting solution. This treatment will rid the buildings of fungus, parasites, and bacteria. The same product can be used to wash the floors in a living room to not only clean, but also disinfect the surface. It is only necessary after washing with soda to rinse the surface well with clean water and wipe dry.
Plants are sprayed with a solution consisting of one to two liters of water and one spoon of caustic soda. Spraying will lead to the death of weevils, aphids and other harmful insects, and will help cope with powdery mildew and late blight.
If a private house has an autonomous heating system, it can be easily washed with caustic soda. To do this, using a pump, fill the system with a twenty percent sodium solution and leave it for two days, then drain the solution along with the dirt and rinse the system with clean water.

Making homemade soap

Sodium hydroxide is also useful in private households.

The solution will help disinfect greenhouses , cellars, cages and all rooms where farm animals were kept. To do this, dissolve ten tablespoons of the product in ten liters of hot water and thoroughly rinse the buildings with the resulting solution. This treatment will rid the buildings of fungus, parasites, and bacteria. The same product can be used to wash the floors in a living room to not only clean, but also disinfect the surface. It is only necessary after washing with soda to rinse the surface well with clean water and wipe dry.
Plants are sprayed with a solution consisting of one to two liters of water and one spoon of caustic soda. Spraying will lead to the death of weevils, aphids and other harmful insects, and will help cope with powdery mildew and late blight.
If a private house has an autonomous heating system, it can be easily washed with caustic soda. To do this, using a pump, fill the system with a twenty percent sodium solution and leave it for two days, then drain the solution along with the dirt and rinse the system with clean water.

Making homemade soap

Soda is one of the components of soap that can be made at home, and its cleaning ability will depend on the amount of soda. Required components:

Oil (linseed, olive) - 500 ml.
Caustic soda - 200 g.
Essential oil - a few drops.

The cooking process is quite simple:

Heat the oil in a water bath.
Add soda to two hundred grams of hot water and mix.
Add oil to the soda solution, add essential oil, stir until a homogeneous viscous mass is obtained.
Pour into molds and leave for several days until completely dry.

Sodium is an inexpensive and widely available product . You just need to follow the instructions for using caustic soda, and it will become an excellent assistant in housekeeping and keeping your home clean.

uborka.co

Types of alkalis

There are not very many alkalis (strong bases):

NaOH sodium hydroxide (caustic soda);
KOH potassium hydroxide (caustic potassium);
LiOH lithium hydroxide;
Ba(OH)2 barium hydroxide;
Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).

https://youtu.be/7JXFlDxNGk4

All of them are hydroxides of metals of subgroups Ia and IIa. An exception to the standard list of alkalis is monovalent thallium hydroxide (formula TlOH), which is also considered a strong base and quickly dissolves in water.

Which metal forms an insoluble base?

Insoluble bases form low-active metals. Among them is copper Cu. Insoluble copper hydroxide Cu(OH)2 is formed by the action of alkali on copper salts. In a test tube there is a solution of copper sulfate CuSO4. Add lye.

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Poisoning

In household chemicals, alkalis are used very often. Due to careless handling, as well as due to their caustic nature, various types of injuries can occur: poisoning and burns. The severity of poisoning depends on the concentration of the drug used.

The most severe form of alkali poisoning occurs when the substance is ingested. Burns of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth often occur.

Alkalies are eliminated from the human body through the kidneys and intestines, so in case of poisoning, these organs are also damaged. If a person is poisoned or burned, you should try to provide first aid before the doctor arrives.

The patient needs special treatment and observation in a hospital setting. If the substance gets inside, the patient can be given an acid-containing solution (Aminocaproic acid, citric acid) to neutralize it. When an acid combines with an alkali, water is formed, and the harmful effects of the alkaline agent on the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach are reduced.

appteka.ru

What to do if you are burned by caustic soda?

Concentrated soda can cause severe chemical burns. Deep skin layers can be damaged. With severe damage, necrotic tissue damage may develop. If this substance gets on your skin, rinse the affected area quickly with plenty of water. Rinse the skin for at least 20 minutes. It is not recommended to use wet towels, because... this will cause the caustic substance to be rubbed into deeper layers.

After this, it is necessary to treat the skin with boric acid, a solution of vinegar or lemon juice. This will reduce the harm from exposure to the concentrated solution. Then you need to apply a bandage soaked in water to the affected area and take a pain reliever. If blisters form, seek medical attention.

More dangerous is getting the concentrated solution into your eyes. This can lead to vision loss due to critical retinal damage. If the product gets into your eyes, rinse them with cold running water and consult a doctor as soon as possible. With timely assistance, it is possible to preserve the organs of vision.

Alkali vapors can cause burns to the respiratory tract. In this case, the person requires urgent medical care, because... there is a high probability of death due to asphyxia. Accidental ingestion of an alkali solution is extremely dangerous. This can cause severe burns to the mucous membranes of the mouth, esophagus and stomach. In this case, you urgently need to rinse your mouth with water and call an ambulance.

Differences between caustic soda and other types of soda

Despite the fact that caustic soda, soda ash and baking soda belong to the same group of sodium compounds, there are still differences.

According to the chemical formula. For calcined it is Na2CO3, and for food it is NaHCO3.
By force of influence. The softest is baking soda, the second place is occupied by soda ash, and the undisputed leader is caustic soda. Caustic is able to cope with the most severe dirt and blockages. Calcined and food-grade ones cannot do this.
For safety. Caustic soda is much more aggressive than all its “relatives” and has a higher hazard class, so precautions must be taken when working with it.

What is this

This is interesting. Caustic soda is the first alkali in terms of volume of consumption in the world. It began to be used for household purposes back in the 7th century: in Arab countries it served as one of the main components for making soap.

The chemical formula of caustic soda (NaOH) indicates that it is formed by the reaction of sodium with oxygen and hydrogen.

The substance is hard white granules or flakes. It is distinguished by its ability to easily dissolve in water; the process is accompanied by the release of a large amount of heat.

Caustic alkali is widely used for both domestic and industrial needs.

Fighting blockages in sewer pipes

Where is this rubber soda used and how to dilute it at home? Before starting work, you need to make sure that contact with caustic occurs without consequences. Rubber gloves, goggles, and a protective mask are mandatory attributes. Sodium hydroxide has the ability to immediately dissolve fat, no matter how old it is. In addition, it is cheaper than imported cleaning products. 1 kg of caustic powder for technical purification will cost an average of 80 rubles (data as of June 2018). Caustic can be found at the heart of the formula of ready-made products, for example, in the composition of “Mole”.

If you live in a private house, then to remove blockages you need 3 kg of caustic powder, and in an apartment building 2 kg is enough. You will also need a plastic bucket with thick walls with a volume of 10-12 liters and a convenient scoop or scoop.

The process of preparing the solution itself is as follows. Pour the required amount of alkali into the bucket. Carefully fill with cold water, but not to the very top, but a little more than half (6-7 l), mix well. As soon as the chemical reaction ends, the composition is ready.

Solution

Peculiarities. Cast iron and steel can withstand this processing method, but not plastic pipes - caustic can simply corrode the surface of the material. If the blockage is small, it is enough to carry out the procedure once. In advanced cases, manipulations must be repeated after two weeks.

Your actions

Carefully pour approximately half of the total weight of the resulting caustic solution into the drain hole.
Make sure that the product does not splash onto the surface of the floor or sink - caustic can corrode the enamel.
Wait about two to three hours (do not use plumbing).
Pour in the rest of the solution and wait the same amount of time.
Turn on the water and pour it into the drain for 10-15 minutes at maximum power.
If you live in an ordinary high-rise apartment, then the solution does not need to be divided into two doses - fill it all at once. The rest of the manipulations are the same.

"Dry" method

Peculiarities. The method is one of the most effective, but requires maximum care. Suitable for prevention and disinfection, as well as after treatment of sewerage with acidic agents - this way you can neutralize the aggressive effects of acid. Keep in mind that the “dry” cleaning method may damage the pipes.

Your actions

Pour 2-3 liters of hot water into the drain. This is done to warm the pipes and increase the effectiveness of the procedure.
Pour two or three tablespoons of powdered or granulated caustic soda (in advanced cases, you can even take one glass) down the drain. Make sure that the substance does not spill onto the surface of sinks, toilets and bathtubs.
Then pour in hot water (only 200-250 ml is enough).
Wait two to three hours for the chemical reactions to take place completely.
Turn the faucet on full blast and rinse off the solution.

Gel

Peculiarities. Liquid caustic is less effective in combating blockages, but is safer and more convenient to use. Ideal for preventive purposes. It is enough to repeat cleaning once or twice a month.

Your actions

Shake the gel thoroughly without opening it.
Pour about a glass or a little more into the drain (take care of enamel surfaces).
Follow this with a glass of hot water and wait two to three hours.
Open the tap to maximum pressure, pour into the drain for 10-15 minutes. This time will be enough for the softened dirt residues to be washed away.

Cleaning the cesspool

Peculiarities. Getting caustic into the soil has a negative effect on the soil. Therefore, the pit must be absolutely sealed and have a proper ventilation system.

Your actions

Prepare the solution according to the same principle as described above for sewer pipes. Depending on the size of the pit, 2-4 kg of caustic soda will be required.
Fill the drainage hole with the mixture.
As a rule, the active period of the product lasts about four minutes.
The cycle must be repeated twice.

Soot and scale

You can often see sodium hydroxide recommended as an effective home remedy for cleaning dishes from scale and deposits.

Caustic soda can really cope with these problems due to its ability to easily remove even old plaque.

Approximately half a glass of caustic alkali is diluted in a bowl of cold water, the dishes are immersed there and left for 5-15 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

Modern cleaning products cope with soot and scale no worse than caustic sodium, but do not require careful adherence to personal safety rules.

Therefore, it is advisable to use caustic soda only when other methods have proven ineffective.

Use in everyday life

In everyday life, caustic is often used to remove contaminants. It has the ability to neutralize even the most stubborn fat.

Cleaning the dishes

Peculiarities. Do not use the product on Teflon or aluminum kitchen utensils. But enameled, cast iron and steel utensils look like new after such procedures.

Your actions

Take a large metal container and fill it with at least 10 liters of water.
Pour about 200 g of caustic into the liquid.
Add shavings of laundry soap obtained from one bar.
Pour in 150 g of “liquid glass” (also called stationery glue).
Mix all this thoroughly and place the dishes that require cleaning into the solution.
Place on low heat, wait until the solution boils and keep for another couple of hours.
After the specified time has passed, remove the utensils and rinse thoroughly with water.

Making soap

Peculiarities. The independently obtained product is no worse than expensive analogues: it foams well and has excellent cleansing properties. Only caustic must be used to the highest degree of purification, marked chemically pure and analytically pure (“chemically pure” and “pure for analysis”, respectively). As a rule, it is sold in stores for soap makers and can cost from 150 to 500 rubles per 1 kg (data as of June 2018).

Your actions

Slightly heat 0.5 liters of vegetable oil.
Mix distilled water (150 ml) and caustic soda (70 g).
Combine the mixture with oil.
Mix the solution thoroughly with a wooden spatula, wait until the caustic soda is completely dissolved and a thick consistency is obtained.
Add two to three tablespoons of any aromatic herbs or five to six drops of your favorite essential oils for scent.
Pour the gel-like substance into a rectangular container and leave it alone for four days in a dry place.
After this time, cut the soap into pieces of the required size with a sharp knife and, if necessary, leave the resulting products to ripen.

Soap making

Sodium hydroxide has been used to make homemade soap for decades.

In recent years, this method has rapidly returned in popularity. This is due to the fact that soap created on the basis of caustic soda copes well with complex and old stains.

To prepare 1.5 liters of this product, you will need:

1 liter of any vegetable oil (used can be used);
150 g caustic soda;
380 ml cold water;
container (enamel and aluminum dishes are not suitable);
wooden spatula for kneading;
mixer;
soap molds.

When making soap, you must wear protective gloves, goggles, a respirator and closed clothing. Preferably in a well-ventilated area.

Pour the soda into the water, stirring carefully with a spatula until completely dissolved.
The resulting mass is gradually introduced into the heated oil.
Beat with a mixer until the consistency resembles thick sour cream. This process may take approximately 40 minutes.
Fill grease-free molds with soap, give it 3-4 days to harden, then remove.
It takes about 20 days to ripen. After this period, you can start using it.

Other areas

The scope of application of sodium hydroxide, due to its unique ability to corrode any dirt and leave behind sterile cleanliness, is quite extensive: at home, in your summer cottage, and even in livestock farming.

Rust. To return the pipes to their original appearance, they are first treated with acidic agents, and then a mixture of caustic soda, formalin and ammonium diluted with water (in equal proportions) is applied.
Stains from fuel oil and ingrained fat. To rid things of particularly heavy stains, soak and leave them for two to three hours in a solution of 2% caustic soda (a tablespoon per liter of water). After that, wash as usual. Particularly daring housewives even use caustic soda in an automatic machine. Three to five tablespoons are poured directly into the drum and a cycle is started with a temperature of 50-100oC. If you are going to wash by hand, then the proportions are three tablespoons of caustic solution per 10 liters of water. You should not try to clean wool and silk fabrics in this way - irreparable damage will be caused to delicate materials.
Washing floors. For 10 liters of liquid you need three tablespoons of a powdery substance. Wipe the surface with the solution, then run over it with clean water and wipe everything dry.
Disinfection. If livestock becomes ill, the premises where the animals are kept are treated with a 4% caustic solution.
Plant processing. Gardeners use caustic soda (five tablespoons per bucket of water) to treat the bushes. This process will not give caterpillars, gray mold and powdery mildew a chance to survive. Caustic acid can accumulate inside the soil. Therefore, such procedures should not be carried out regularly.

Pipe processing

Using caustic soda, you can clean the drains in the bathroom or toilet yourself.

Advice. Caustic soda should not be used for kitchen pipes, since, by reacting with fatty substances accumulated there, it can cause the blockage to thicken.

For cleaning, use sodium hydroxide solution or powder. The second option is safer to use. The powder is poured into the sewer hole, observing all precautions, a glass of warm water is poured into it and left for 2-3 hours. After this time, the pipe is washed.

Another application is to neutralize the effects of acidic agents.

Acids effectively remove any type of grease deposits, which is why they are often used to clean sewer pipes. However, over time they provoke the appearance of metal corrosion. Treatment with caustic soda helps stop this process.

Safety regulations

Sodium hydroxide is a powerful alkali that can corrode even hard materials. To preserve your health and the integrity of surfaces, it is imperative to take precautions.

Wear protective equipment. Before starting the procedures, arm yourself with goggles and a mask, rubber gloves should reach your elbows, clothing should be tight and not leave exposed areas of the body. This will protect yourself from chemical burns.
Wait for the reaction to complete. Since caustic, when interacting with water, is capable of generating heat, you should not immediately start performing procedures with it. Wait a few minutes for the chemical reactions to complete.
Do not spray the product. Surfaces, especially enameled ones, may suffer from this.
Avoid contact with skin. If the product gets on exposed areas of the body or in the eyes, rinse them immediately under running water. Then treat with 2% boric acid. If after half an hour the burning sensation and redness still do not go away, seek medical help.
Store correctly. Caustic must be stored in a well-closed iron or glass jar. It should not be in the public domain, as it is poisonous and explosive.

Remember that frequent use of caustic can lead to the destruction of the surface of even the most durable materials.

Reviews

I have been using caustic soda for a long time; my parents also used it. For sewerage, I consider it the best option, the main thing is not to run it to such an extent that mechanical cleaning is needed. I even use this soda for prevention, I just pour it down the drain and pour it with hot water. This way the drain does not get dirty, especially if you do this at least once every two to three months. By the way, caustic soda is great for washing very heavily oiled items, such as work clothes. I buy caustic soda in powder, it seems to me more convenient to dose.
Nina Alexandrovna, https://kvartirnyj-remont.com/primenenie-kausticheskoj-sody-dlya-chistki-kanalizacii.html

In our house, all the pipes and all the plumbing are very old. There were constant blockages in the kitchen, we took advertised products such as tire, it helped, of course, but not for long. Do I need to explain that these funds cost a pretty penny? Then they told us about caustic soda. We bought it, tried it, liked it. The main thing is that it is affordable. Blockages still happen, but they are rare.
Maria, https://postwater.ru/kanalizaciya/v-chastnom-dome/kausticheskaya-soda.html

woman365.ru

Alkalis in everyday life

Alkalis are crystalline bases that are highly soluble in water. They are soapy to the touch and are strong catalysts for attacking a variety of materials, including porcelain or glass. Therefore, storing them in vessels that consist of these materials is strictly prohibited. Most often, plastic containers are used for this.

Caustic soda or caustic soda, scientific name is sodium hydroxide. A crystalline substance of light yellow or completely white color, commercially produced in the form of granules. Excellently dissolves various fats and has a strong cleaning effect. Cleans oil stains from various products, cleans sewer pipes from fatty build-ups.

You can find the best restaurants on Smolenskaya by visiting the website gayanes.ru. Only there there are excellent restaurants with the best cuisine and reasonable prices.

Slaked lime or scientifically called calcium hydroxide. It is most often used in the construction industry for whitewashing and plastering walls and ceilings.

Ammonia or ammonia solution is a liquid with a sharp, irritating, unpleasant odor that negatively affects the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose. In everyday life it is used as a 25 percent solution. With its help you can wash woolen products and remove stains that are of organic origin: resins, fats, milk. Recently, it has been widely used in window cleaning products. Since ammonia has excellent cleaning properties, it does not leave streaks on the surface of the glass. Also, a weak solution of ammonia is used to clean and add shine to gold and silver products; for this, the solution needs to be heated, and then the jewelry should be lowered there for a while. Ammonia is capable of forming compounds with metals that dissolve in water.

infourok.ru

About caustic and not so caustic

– These idiots placed a porcelain container with “jelly” in a special chamber, extremely isolated... That is, they thought that the chamber was extremely isolated, but when they opened the container with manipulators, the “jelly” went through the metal and plastic, like water through a blotter, and escaped outward, and everything he came into contact with again turned into “jelly.” Thirty-five people were killed, more than a hundred were maimed, and the entire laboratory building was completely unusable. Have you ever been there? Magnificent building! And now the “jelly” has flowed into the basements and lower floors... Here is the prelude to contact.

— A. Strugatsky, B. Strugatsky “Roadside Picnic”
Hello, %username%!

Blame this person for the fact that I’m still writing something. He gave me the idea.

Just after some thought, I decided that a short excursion into caustic substances would be relatively quick. Maybe someone will be interested. And for some it’s useful.

Go. Let’s immediately define the concepts.

Corrosive - 1. Chemically corrosive. 2. Sharp, causing irritation, pain. 3. Sargent, caustic.

Ozhegov S.I.
Dictionary of the Russian language. - M.: Rus.yaz., 1990. - 921 p. So, we immediately discard the last two meanings of the word. We also discard “caustic” lachrymators - which are not so much caustic as they cause lacrimation, and sternites - which cause coughing. Yes, below there will be substances that have these properties, but they are what is important! - really corrode materials, and sometimes flesh.

We will not consider substances that are caustic only for humans and the like - due to the specific destruction of cell membranes. Therefore, mustard gases will remain out of use.

We will consider compounds that are liquids at room conditions. Therefore, we will not consider liquid oxygen and nitrogen, as well as gases such as fluorine, although they can be considered caustic, yes.

As always, the view will be purely subjective, based on personal experience. And yes - it’s quite possible that I won’t remember someone - write comments, %username%, within three days from the date of publication I will supplement the article with what was forgotten from the very beginning!

And yes - I don’t have the time and energy to build a “hit parade”, so it will be a hodgepodge. And with all the exceptions, it turned out to be quite short.

Caustic alkalis

Specifically, alkali metal hydroxides: lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium, thallium (I) hydroxide and barium hydroxide. But:

Lithium, cesium, rubidium and barium are discarded - expensive and rare
If you, %username%, come across francium hydroxide, then the last thing you will worry about is causticity - it is terribly radioactive
It’s the same with thallium - it’s terribly poisonous.

Therefore, sodium and potassium remain.
But let's be honest - the properties of all caustic alkalis are very similar. Sodium hydroxide is known to everyone as “caustic soda” (not to be confused with baking soda, soda ash and other soda, as well as potash). Potassium hydroxide as a food additive E525 too. Both are similar in properties: they are highly hygroscopic, that is, they attract water and “dissolve” in air. They dissolve well in water and release a large amount of heat.

“Spreading” in air is essentially the formation of very concentrated solutions of alkalis. Therefore, if you put a piece of caustic alkali on paper, leather, some metals (the same aluminum) - then after a while you will find that the material has eaten well! What was shown in “Fight Club” is very similar to the truth: indeed, sweaty hands - and the alkali - will hurt! Personally, I found it more painful than hydrochloric acid (more on that below).

However, if your hands are very dry, most likely you won’t feel anything in the dry alkali.

Caustic alkalis are excellent at breaking down fats into glycerin and salts of fatty acids - this is how soap is made (hello, “Fight Club!”) A little longer, but just as effectively, proteins are broken down - that is, in principle, alkalis dissolve flesh, especially strong solutions - and when heated . The disadvantage in comparison with the same perchloric acid (more on that below) is that all alkalis draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and therefore the strength will gradually decrease. In addition, alkalis also react with the components of glass - the glass becomes cloudy, although in order to dissolve it completely, here, of course, you have to try.

Tetraalkylammonium hydroxides are sometimes classified as caustic alkalis, for example
tetramethylammonium hydroxide

In fact, these substances combine the properties of cationic surfactants (well, it’s like ordinary soap - only cationic: here the active diphilic particle is with a “+” charge, and in soap - with a “-” charge) and relatively high basicity. If it gets on your hands, you can lather it in water and wash it like soap; if you warm your hair, skin or nails in an aqueous solution, they will dissolve. The “causticity” against the background of sodium and potassium hydroxides is so-so.

Sulfuric acid

H2SO4
The most popular, probably, in all stories. Not the most caustic, but quite unpleasant: concentrated sulfuric acid (which is 98%) is an oily liquid that loves water very much, and therefore takes it away from everyone. By taking water away from cellulose and sugar, it chars them. In the same way, she will happily take the water away from you, %username%, especially if you pour it on the delicate skin of your face or into your eyes (well, in fact, everything will get into your eyes with adventure). Particularly kind people mix sulfuric acid with oil to make it harder to wash off and better absorbed into the skin.

By the way, when taking in water, sulfuric acid heats up greatly, which makes the picture even more juicy. Therefore, washing it off with water is a very bad idea. It’s better to use oil (rinse off, not rub in, and then rinse with water). Well, or a large flow of water to immediately cool it.

“First water, and then acid - otherwise big trouble will happen!” — this is specifically about sulfuric acid, although for some reason everyone thinks that it’s about any acid.

Being an oxidizing agent, sulfuric acid oxidizes the surface of metals to oxides. And since the interaction of oxides with acids takes place with the participation of water as a catalyst - and sulfuric acid does not release water - an effect called passivation occurs: a dense, insoluble and impenetrable film of metal oxide protects it from further dissolution.

According to this mechanism, concentrated sulfuric acid is sent to distant distances by iron and aluminum. It is noteworthy that if the acid is diluted, water appears, and it is impossible to send - the metals dissolve.

By the way, sulfur oxide SO3 dissolves in sulfuric acid and produces oleum - which is sometimes mistakenly written as H2S2O7, but this is not entirely correct. Oleum has an even greater attraction to water.

My own feelings when sulfuric acid gets on my hand: it’s a little warm, then it burns a little - I washed it off under the tap, no big deal. Don't believe the movies, but I don't recommend putting it on your face.

Organics often use chromium or “chromic mixture” - this is potassium dichromate dissolved in sulfuric acid. Essentially this is a solution of chromic acid, it is good for washing dishes from organic residues. If it gets on your hand, it also burns, but essentially it’s sulfuric acid plus toxic hexavalent chromium. You won't find holes in your hand, except maybe on your clothes.

The author of these lines knows an idiot who used potassium permanganate instead of potassium dichromate. Upon contact with organic matter, it stung a little. Those present shit themselves and escaped with a slight fright.

By the way, since we remembered chromium, let’s digress a little from the topic of acids and

Chromyl chloride

CrO2Cl2
Essentially, it is a violent compound of hexavalent chromium and hydrochloric acid. The dark red liquid, which draws water, hydrolyzes - and eventually smokes this very hydrochloric acid. Causticity is the result of this fraternal unity: chromium oxidizes, hydrochloric acid dissolves: it ignites some organic solvents (alcohol, turpentine), but dissolves in some (carbon tetrachloride, dichloromethane, carbon disulfide). It eats up metals, but not as well as acids - again it’s a matter of passivation. for example, steel, when exposed, acquires a beautiful dark blue surface.

The skin - understandably - ulcerates, and chrompica is stronger in this, since it penetrates better into the skin as into non-polar organic tissue. But it’s not even that, it’s about hexavalent chromium, which is actually a carcinogen, and therefore if it penetrates deeper, there are more problems. And of course, inhaling is much more dangerous.

Hydrochloric acid

HCl
does not exceed 38% in water. One of the most popular acids for dissolution - in this it is cooler than others, because technologically it can be very pure, and in addition to acting as an acid, it also forms complex chlorides that increase solubility. By the way, it is for this reason that insoluble silver chloride is very soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid.

This one, when it comes into contact with the skin, burns a little more, subjectively, it also itches, and also stinks: if you work a lot with concentrated hydrochloric acid in a laboratory with a poor hood, your dentist will thank you: you’ll make it rich on fillings. By the way, chewing gum helps. But not much. Better - a hood.

Since it is not oily and does not heat up much with water, it is caustic only to metals, and not to all. By the way, steel in concentrated hydrochloric acid is passivated and says “nope!” This is what they use during transportation.

Nitric acid

HNO3
Also very popular, for some reason they are also afraid of it - but in vain. Concentrated - this is the one up to 70% - it is the most popular, higher - it is “smoking”, most often no one needs it. There is also anhydrous one - and it also explodes.

Being an oxidizing agent, it passivates many metals that become covered with an insoluble film and say “goodbye” - these are chromium, iron, aluminum, cobalt, nickel and others.

It instantly reacts with the skin according to the principle of the xanthoprotein reaction - there will be a yellow spot, which means that you, %username%, are still made of protein! After some time, the yellow skin will peel off, as if burned. At the same time, it stings less than salt, although it stinks no worse - and this time it is more toxic: flying nitrogen oxides are not very good for the body.

In chemistry, they use the so-called “nitrating mixture” - the most popular one consists of sulfuric and nitric acids. It is used in syntheses, in particular in the production of a cheerful substance - pyroxylin. In terms of causticity - the same chromium plus beautiful yellow skin.

There is also “regia vodka” - this is part nitric acid to three parts hydrochloric acid. Used to dissolve certain metals, mainly precious ones. The drip method of checking the sample of gold products is based on different ratios and the addition of water - by the way, it is very difficult for specialists using this method to fool with a fake. In terms of causticity for the skin - the same “nitrating mixture” plus it smells great, the smell cannot be confused with anything else, it is also quite toxic.

There is also “reverse aqua regia” - when the ratio is reversed, but this is a rare specificity.

By the way, about that very “smoking” one, which is red, angry and an oxidizing agent - I quote the story of a good friend who sent me just now.

I drove this very 98% nitrogen. Whether it was simply distilled for purification, or from melange, I don’t remember. I caught up with about two liters and removed the receiver. I ask the laboratory assistant to give me a clean 2-liter flask and pour it into it. She gave it to me, dry, clean, but with alcohol - and with the cap closed. That is, the pairs were and accumulated. I pour it into the funnel and pour it. I take her there and she comes back. I sprayed it well on my hands, on my face and below my neck. It felt like an eagle grabbed your face. Plus the arms, neck, under the nose, etc. little things. In my hands, I remind you, are two liters of the same goodness. Eyes closed, naturally. I understand that you can’t throw the flask, it will immediately become much worse. I carefully place the flask on the rubber stand, move to the sink, turn the gander into my face and turn on full pressure. I managed it in about five seconds. I didn’t reach the subcutaneous tissue. Otherwise everything would have been much worse. I saw with another guy that it happens after 10-15 seconds. Difficult-to-heal purple scars on half of the arm. Then I realized why she was so angry. Not only is it a fairly strong acid and oxidizing agent, it is also a wonderful solvent. It is indefinitely miscible with water, but also indefinitely miscible with, for example, dichloroethane. This is some kind of biphilic rubbish.

Phosphoric acid

H3PO4
In fact, I gave the formula for orthophosphoric acid, the most common one. And there is also metaphosphoric, polyphosphoric, ultraphosphoric - in short, that’s enough, but it doesn’t matter.

Concentrated orthophosphoric acid (85%) is such a syrup. The acid itself is average, it is often used in the food industry, by the way - when you get fillings, the surface of the tooth is first etched with phosphoric acid.

Its corrosion properties are so-so, but there is an unpleasant nuance: this syrup is well absorbed. Therefore, if it drips on things, it will be absorbed, and then it will slowly corrode. And if there is a stain or a hole from nitric and hydrochloric acid, then from phosphorus the thing will fall apart, this is especially colorful on shoes, when the hole seems to crumble until it turns out right through.

Well, in general it’s difficult to call it caustic.

Hydrofluoric acid

HF
Concentrated hydrofluoric acid is about 38%, although there are the odd exception.

A weak acid that takes the fierce love of fluoride ions to form persistent complexes with everyone with whom it can. Therefore, it surprisingly dissolves what other, stronger friends cannot, and therefore is very often used in various mixtures for dissolution. When you get it on your hand, the sensations will be greater from other components of such mixtures, but there is a nuance.

Hydrofluoric acid dissolves SiO2. That is sand. That is glass. That is, quartz. And so on. No, if you splash this acid on a window, it won’t dissolve, but a cloudy stain will remain. To dissolve, you need to hold it for a long time, or even better, heat it. When dissolved, SiF4 is released, which is so beneficial for health that it is better to do it under a hood.

A small but pleasant nuance: you, %username%, contain silicon in your nails. So, if hydrofluoric acid gets under your nails, you won’t notice anything. But you won’t be able to sleep at night - it will hurt SO much that sometimes you want to tear your finger off. Believe me, friend, I know.

And in general, hydrofluoric acid is toxic, carcinogenic, absorbed through the skin and a lot of other things - but today we’re talking about causticity, right?

Do you remember how we agreed at the very beginning that there would be no fluoride? He won't be. But they will...

Fluorides of inert gases

In fact, fluorine is a tough guy, you can’t really show off with it, and therefore some inert gases form fluorides with it. The following stable fluorides are known: KrF2, XeF2, XeF4, XeF6. All these are crystals, which in air at different speeds and readily decompose with moisture to hydrofluoric acid. The causticity is appropriate.

Hydroiodic acid

HI
The strongest (by degree of dissociation in water) binary acid. A strong reducing agent, which is used by organic chemists. In air it oxidizes and turns brown, which causes stains upon contact. The sensation upon contact is like salt water. All.

Perchloric acid

HClO4
One of the strongest (in terms of the degree of dissociation in water) acids in general (super acids compete with it - more about them below) - the Hammett acidity function (a numerical expression of the ability of a medium to be a proton donor in relation to an arbitrary base, the lower the number, the stronger the acid) is -13. Anhydrous is a strong oxidizing agent, likes to explode, and is generally unstable. Concentrated (70%-72%) is an oxidizing agent no worse, often used in the decomposition of biological objects. Decomposition is interesting and exciting because it can explode in the process: you need to make sure that there are no coal particles, that it does not boil too violently, etc. Perchloric acid is also quite dirty - it cannot be purified by subdistillation, the infection explodes! Therefore, it is not used often.

When it comes into contact with the skin, it burns and feels like salt. It stinks. When you see in films that someone threw a corpse into a container with perchloric acid and it dissolved, then yes, this is possible - but it will take a long time or warm it up. If you heat it up, it may explode (see above). So be critical of cinema (I think I saw this in 10 Cloverfield Lane).

By the way, the causticity of chlorine oxide (VII) Cl2O7 and chlorine oxide (VI) Cl2O6 is the result of the fact that these oxides form perchloric acid with water.

Now let’s imagine that we decided to combine strong acidity and the causticity of fluorine in one compound: let’s take a molecule of perchloric or sulfuric acid and replace all the hydroxyl groups on it with fluorine! The rubbish will turn out to be rare: it will interact with water and similar compounds - and at the site of the reaction a strong acid and hydrofluoric acid will immediately be obtained. A?

Fluorides of sulfur, bromine and iodine

Remember we agreed to consider only liquids? For this reason, our article did not include chlorine trifluoride ClF3
, which boils at +12 °C, although all the horror stories are that it is terribly toxic, ignites glass, a gas mask and, when spilled 900 kilograms, eats 30 cm of concrete and a meter of gravel - everything This is true. But we agreed - liquids.

However, there is a yellow liquid - iodine pentafluoride IF5

, colorless liquid -
bromine trifluoride BrF3
, light yellow -
bromine pentafluoride BrF5
, which are no worse. BrF5, for example, also dissolves glass, metals and concrete.

Similarly, among all sulfur fluorides, only disulfur decafluoride (sometimes called sulfur pentafluoride) is liquid - a colorless liquid with the formula S2F10

. But this compound is quite stable at ordinary temperatures, does not decompose with water - and therefore is not particularly caustic. True, it is 4 times more toxic than phosgene with a similar mechanism of action.

By the way, iodine pentafluoride is said to have been the “special gas” used to fill the atmosphere in the escape shuttle in the final scenes of the 1979 film Alien. Well, I don’t remember, honestly. Reminds me! Damn, it’s so cool there that I couldn’t resist and dedicated a separate article to it.

I even found it, took a closer look and realized that Ripley lived there in such harsh conditions that the alien beast was just cute

Super acids

The term "super acid" was coined by James Conant in 1927 to classify acids that are stronger than ordinary mineral acids.
In some sources, perchloric acid is classified as a super acid, although this is not so - it is an ordinary mineral one. A number of superacids are mineral acids to which a halogen has been attached: the halogen pulls electrons onto itself, all the atoms get very angry, and everything goes to hydrogen as usual: it falls off in the form of H+ - boom: so the acid has become stronger.

Examples - fluorosulfuric and chlorosulfuric acids

Fluorosulfuric acid has a Hammett function of -15.1; by the way, thanks to fluorine, this acid gradually dissolves the test tube in which it is stored.
Then someone smart thought: let's take a Lewis acid (a substance that can accept a pair of electrons from another substance) and mix it with a Brønsted acid (a substance that can donate a proton)! Antimony pentafluoride was mixed with hydrofluoric acid to obtain hexafluorantimony acid HSbF6

. In this system, hydrofluoric acid releases a proton (H+), and the conjugate base (F−) is isolated by a coordination bond with antimony pentafluoride. This produces a large octahedral anion (SbF6−), which is a very weak nucleophile and a very weak base. Having become “free”, the proton determines the hyperacidity of the system - Hammett function -28!

And then others came and said why they took Bernstead’s weak acid and came up with this.

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

- in itself is already a super acid (Hammett function -14.1).
So, they added antimony pentafluoride to it again - they got a decrease to -16.8! The same trick with fluorosulfuric acid gave a reduction to -23. And then a group of scientists from the chemistry department of the American University of California, led by Professor Christopher Reed, hung out with colleagues from the Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk) and came up with carborane acid H(CHB11Cl11). Well, they called it “carborane” for ordinary people, but if you want to feel like a scientist, say “2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12-undecachlor-1-carba-closo-dodecaborane (12)” three times and quickly.

This is what this beauty looks like

This is a dry powder that is soluble in water.
This is the Strongest Acid at the moment. Carborane acid is approximately a million times stronger than concentrated sulfuric acid. It is not possible to measure the strength of an acid on a conventional scale, since the acid protonates all known weak bases and all solvents in which it dissolves, including water, benzene, fullerene-60, and sulfur dioxide. Subsequently, Christopher Reed told Nature news service: “The idea for the synthesis of carborane acid was born out of fantasies about “molecules that had never been created before.” Together with his colleagues, he wants to use carborane acid to oxidize atoms of the noble gas xenon - simply because no one has done it before. Original, what can I say.

Well, since super acids are ordinary acids, they act normally, only a little stronger. It is clear that the skin will burn, but this does not mean that it will dissolve. Fluorosulfonic acid is a separate case, but it’s all thanks to fluorine, just like in fluoride.

Trihaloacetic acids

Specifically, trifluoroacetic and trichloroacetic acid

Cute and pleasant due to the combination of the properties of an organic polar solvent and a fairly strong acid.
They stink—like vinegar. The cutest thing is trifluoroacetic acid: a 20% solution destroys metals, cork, rubber, bakelite, polyethylene. The skin burns and forms dry ulcers that reach the muscle layer.

Trichloroacetic acid is the younger brother in this regard, but that’s okay too. By the way, applause to the weaker sex: in pursuit of beauty, some go for the so-called TCA peeling procedure (TCA is TetraChloroAcetate) - when this same trichloroacetic acid is used to dissolve the top, rough layer of skin.

True, if a cosmetologist chats on the phone, a failure is possible

Acetic acid

CH3COOH
Most likely, you have this acid in your kitchen - and yes, it is used as a food additive E260. But it can also be stronger - a 70-80% aqueous solution of acetic acid is called acetic essence, and if the concentration is close to 100% - glacial acetic acid (because it can freeze and form something similar to ice.

Acetic acid is not as caustic towards metals as mineral acids, but since it is not so polar, and to some extent even diphilic (a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts in one molecule - as in surfactants), it is great absorbed by the skin. Solutions with acetic acid concentrations greater than 30% are considered dangerous. The peculiarity of burns is that the development of coagulation necrosis of adjacent tissues of varying length and depth is also initiated - if not washed off, there will be long-healing ulcers and scars.

Well, it stinks, of course, quite noticeably.

Formic acid

HCOOH
We have already discussed that formic acid, which is formed in the body after taking methanol, is one of the main reasons for its toxicity. So, formic acid from the outside is not at all so dangerous, since it is quickly metabolized and eliminated by the body. Toxicity is quite low - for rats LD50 is about 1.8 g / kg, and therefore formic acid is also often used, including as a food additive - and there is no need to be afraid of this.

The “causticity” of formic acid depends on the concentration. According to the classification of the European Union, a concentration of up to 10% has an irritating effect, and more than 10% has a corrosive effect. And again we are not talking about metals and glass - but about the body. Upon contact with skin, 100% liquid formic acid causes severe chemical burns. Contact of even a small amount of it on the skin causes severe pain; the affected area first turns white, as if covered with frost, then becomes wax-like, with a red border appearing around it. The acid easily penetrates the fatty layer of the skin, so washing the affected area with a soda solution must be done immediately. So the ants really do know something.

Bromine

Br2
A heavy, caustic liquid of red-brown color with a strong unpleasant odor, vaguely reminiscent of the smell of both iodine and chlorine. By the way, the name “bromine” comes from the Greek βρῶμος - “stinker”, “smelly”.

Bromine is a typical halogen; in terms of chemical activity, bromine occupies an intermediate position between chlorine and iodine. That is, not as fast as fluorine - but livelier than boring iodine. And yes, it doesn’t reach chlorine either.

Slightly soluble in water, well soluble in some organic solvents. Bromine water, a reagent for unsaturated hydrocarbons, stinks, but is quite peaceful and does not dissolve anything much.

Pure bromine is powerful, smelly and hairy, as well as toxic. When it comes into contact with the skin, it causes burns: the trouble is that bromine molecules are non-polar, and therefore penetrate well into hydrophobic human skin and flesh - and therefore burns are really painful, take a long time to heal, and almost always leave a scar. Aluminum flares up on contact with bromine, other metals are more temperate, but in powder form - some react, for example, iron.

Concrete and glass are quite resistant to bromine. Organic compounds with bromine - what? - Right! - are brominated in the presence of an unsaturated bond. For this reason, the stability of polymers depends on their type, for example polyethylene and polypropylene - they didn’t care about bromine at room conditions.

Hydrogen peroxide

H2O2
An unstable compound that constantly breaks down gradually into oxygen and water. The higher the concentration, the more unstable it is, which gradually turns into an explosive hazard. To stabilize technical hydrogen peroxide, sodium pyrophosphate or sodium stannate is added to it; When stored in aluminum containers, a corrosion inhibitor is used - ammonium nitrate.

Hydrogen peroxide in the laboratory is usually a 38% solution. Upon contact with skin, it causes a chemical burn with a characteristic white color. The burn is painful, especially on thin skin; the whitened, keratinized skin then often cracks and itches.

In medicine, 3% hydrogen peroxide is used to clean deep wounds with a complex profile, purulent streaks, phlegmons and other purulent wounds, the sanitation of which is difficult - the substance not only has an antiseptic effect, but also creates a large amount of foam when interacting with the enzyme catalase. This, in turn, makes it possible to soften and separate necrotic areas, blood clots, and pus from the tissues, which will be easily washed away by subsequent injection of an antiseptic solution into the wound cavity. By the way, hydrogen peroxide is undesirable in other cases of wounds: while having good cleansing properties, this substance does not actually speed up the healing process, since it damages the cells adjacent to the wound, as well as young, newly formed tissues - and this is also fraught with the formation of scars.

Except for burns on the skin, it does not corrode or dissolve anything. Metals, glass and plastics are resistant to hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide also gave the world many unique natural blondes with black hair roots!

Close to hydrogen peroxide are the so-called peracids - acids that contain peroxide groups. Example: peracetic acid CH3COOOH

- a substance that resembles hydrogen peroxide in its properties, and therefore is used in exactly the same areas.
There is “pervomur” or “S-4” (no, this is not the C-4 you thought about) - this is performic acid HCOOOH
, which is even weaker than peracetic, and therefore surgeons wash their hands with it before surgery.
And finally - trifluoroperacetic acid CF3COOOH
- a fierce, crazy oxidizing agent, which organic chemists look at with admiration for the possibility of oxidizing aniline to nitrobenzene, obtaining hypervalent iodine in organic compounds, the Bayer-Villiger reaction and other things that are poorly understood by normal people. In terms of causticity - trifluoroacetic acid mixed with hydrogen peroxide, which, in fact, is what it is, and therefore poses a particular danger to the hands, yes. Due to its high oxidizing power, trifluoroperacetic acid is not sold, but is usually obtained by admiring organic chemists directly, where necessary, by reacting trifluoroacetic anhydride with hydrogen peroxide.

Well, something like this, if we talk about liquid and causticity. Will there be more additions?

What is sodium hydroxide

This compound is a caustic alkali, which is used not only in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors, but also in the chemical industry. Sodium hydroxide, or caustic soda, comes in the form of slightly slippery hard granules that are yellowish or white in color. At high concentrations, NaOH corrodes organic compounds and can therefore cause burns. Used as a food additive E524, necessary to maintain the consistency of products.

Formula

The substance has the chemical formula NaOH. The compound interacts with various substances of any state of aggregation, neutralizing them, with acids, forming salt and water. Reaction with atmospheric oxides and hydroxides produces tetrahydroxozincate or alcoholate. Caustic soda is used to precipitate metals. For example, when reacting with aluminum sulfate, its hydroxide is formed. The precipitate does not dissolve and excess alkali production is not observed. This is relevant when purifying water from small suspended matter.

Properties

The compound is soluble in water. Technical Sodium Hydroxide is an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in an alkali-resistant sealed container. When interacting with water, caustic releases a large amount of heat. The substance has the following properties:

when pre-melted, it destroys glass and porcelain;
interaction with ammonia causes a fire hazard;
boils at 1390°C, melts if the temperature reaches 318°C;
insoluble in ethers and acetone;
it is very hygroscopic (absorbs water vapor from the air), so sodium lye should be stored in a dry place and in sealed packaging;
soluble in methanol, glycerin, ethanol;
reacts violently with metals - tin, aluminum hydroxide, lead, zinc, forms hydrogen - an explosive flammable poison;
absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.

Receipt

Caustic soda occurs in the mineral brucite . The second largest deposit is concentrated in Russia. The hydroxide, thanks to the research of Nicolas Leblanc, carried out in 1787, is obtained by synthesis from sodium chloride. Later, electrolysis became a popular extraction method. Since 1882, scientists have developed a ferrite method for producing hydroxide in the laboratory using soda ash. The electrochemical method is now the most popular: sodium ions form a solution of caustic mercury - an amalgam, which dissolves in water.

What is caustic soda, what properties does it have?

This soda has many more names, incl. purified caustic soda, caustic soda, sodium hydroxide. The chemical formula of this substance is NaOH. This compound is characterized by high chemical activity towards organic substances.

This alkali is a white crystalline substance without a pungent odor. It can be completely dissolved in water. This reaction is accompanied by the release of large amounts of heat and toxic fumes. The following main properties of caustic soda can be indicated:

insolubility in acetone and ethers;
high boiling point;
susceptibility to fire;
possibility of reaction with lead, aluminum, tin and zinc;
ability to melt glass;
ability to dissolve fats and organic contaminants.

When molten, this soda can release explosive gas, which can ignite when reacting with ammonia. In addition, this substance is highly volatile and must therefore be stored in a tightly closed container. Caustic soda belongs to hazard class 2.

Applications of sodium hydroxide

There is no alkali more common than caustic soda. About 57 million tons are consumed annually. Caustic sodium is used in the production of medicines, phenol, organic dyes, and glycerin . Another area of application is the disinfection of premises due to the ability of a chemical compound to neutralize substances harmful to humans in the air. Hydroxides are also widely used to maintain the shape of products (food industry).

In industry

Sodium hydroxide is a strong basis for chemical reactions and is actively used in various industries due to its properties :

Pulp industry - to remove sulfate from wood fibers for softening (delignification). This is necessary in the production of cardboard, paper, and artificial fibers.
Chemical industry - used for the production of oils, neutralization of substances in acidic environments, for the etching of aluminum, and the production of pure metals.
Sodium hydroxide is used to produce biodiesel fuel from vegetable oils; the reaction produces glycerol.
The compound is used to wash car tire molds.
In civil defense, it is common in the neutralization of substances hazardous to health in the air, degassing.
The product is used for the illegal production of drugs such as methamphetamines.

Food supplement

Caustic soda peels vegetables and fruits. A substance is used to give caramel color. As a food additive E524 (a class of acidity regulators, anti-caking agents along with sodium carbonate) is used in the production of cocoa, ice cream, butter, margarine, chocolate, and soft drinks. Olives and black olives soften and turn black.

Food products - bagels and German pretzels (pretzels) - are treated with a caustic solution to crisp them up. In Scandinavian cuisine there is a fish dish - lutefisk . The preparation technology involves soaking dried cod in a hydroxide solution for 5-6 days until a jelly-like consistency is obtained. In the food industry, soda helps to refine vegetable oil.

In the production of detergents

The ability of caustic soda to interact with fats has been noticed for a long time. Since the 7th century, the Arabs mastered the production of solid soap using caustic soda and aromatic oils. This technology remains the same. Caustic soda is added to shampoos, detergents, and personal care products. The cosmetics industry uses Na hydroxide to produce anti-grease soaps, nail polish removers, and creams.

At home

The main method of application is gel-like hydroxide or its granules. Included in products for eliminating blockages in sewer systems and heating systems. The dirt dissolves, disaggregates and passes further through the pipe. Stainless steel products are cleaned of oily substances using caustic soda heated to 50-60°C with the addition of potassium hydroxide. Cosmetology uses a gel based on it to soften keratinized skin, papillomas, and warts.

Sodium hydroxide in medicine

The compound is added to medications against high stomach acidity for a strong laxative effect. This remedy leads to increased intestinal motility . The use of the substance restores the acid-base balance. It is used in medicine to achieve a calming effect, and is suitable for purifying water from impurities. Thanks to sodium chloride, indicators of the osmotic pressure of blood plasma remain constant. It should not be confused with baking soda and table salt.