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• Chemical name of Na₂CO₃.10H₂O: Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate (Washing soda)

• Na₂CO₃ : Sodium Carbonate (Soda ash)

• 10H₂O is the water of crystallization of sedum carbonate. Water of crystallization is the fixed number of water molecules present in one formula unit of a salt. Thus ‘10’ water molecules are present in one formula unit of sodium carbonate.

Washing soda is produced by Solvay process, by the reaction of ammonical brine with CO₂ gas.

NaCl + NH₃ + CO₂ + H₂O NaHCO₃ + NH₄Cl

NaHCO₃ on heating produces Na₂CO₃ (Sodium carbonate, called soda ash) which on recrystallization produces washing soda.

Washing soda is a basic salt.

Some important uses of washing soda:

(i) Washing soda is used in the glass, soap and paper industries.

(ii) It is used in the manufacture of borax compound.

(iii) It is used as a cleansing agent for domestic purposes.

(iv) It is used for removing permanent hardness of water.