110 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Soon Cahbonas. Sodium Carbonate. Na^ CO3 10 H^O. 

 (Non-ofBcial) 



Synonym.— Washing soda, sal soda, carbonas sodicus, E. ; natrum carbonicum 

 crudum, P. G.; carbonate de soude, Fr.; kohlensaures natron, soda, G. 



Derivation.— Made by Leblanc's process. Three steps: 



1st. Salt and sulphuric acid heated together. 2 Na CI. + H, SO^ = Na. SO, 

 I 2 HCl. 



2nd. Sodium sulphate is heated with carbon. Na^SO, + 4 C = Naj S + 4 CO. 



3rd. Sodium sulphide heated with chalk. Naj S + Ca COa = Na, COa + Ca S. 



Properties.— Colorless, monoclinic crystals, odorless and having a strongly 

 alkaline taste. In dry air the salt effloresces, loses about half its water of 

 crystallization and becomes a white powder. Soluble in 1.6 parts of water and 

 in 1.02 part of glycerin. Reaction alkaline. 



SoDii Caebonas Monohybhatus. Monohydrated Sodium Carbonate. 

 Na^COa + H^O. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Natrum carbonicum siccum, P G.; carbonate de soude, Fr.; 

 getrocknete soda, G. . . 



Properties.— A white, crystalline, granular powder; odorless, and havmg a 

 strongly alkaline taste. When exposed to the air, under ordinary conditions.^ it 

 absorbs only a slight percentage of moisture. Soluble in 3 parts of water; in- 

 soluble in alcohol and ether; soluble in 7 parts of glycerin. Reaction alkaline. 

 Action of sodirnn carbonate similar to the hydroxide, but infrequently employed 

 in medicine. 



Dose.—n. & C, 5ii-vi, (8-24); Sh. & Sw., gr.xx-xl, (1.3-2.6); D., gr.v-xx, 

 (.3-1.3). Given in large amount of water. 



SoDii Bicaebonas. Sodium Bicarbonate. Na HCOa. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym.— Soda, baking soda, sodium hydrocarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, 

 E.; natrum bicarbonicum, P. G.; bicarbonate de soude, sel digestive de vichy, 

 Fr. ; doppeltkohlensaures natron, G. 



Derivation. — Pass CO2 through a solution of sodium carbonate, Naj CO3 -)- 

 C02-|-HjO=:2 Na HCO3. . 



Properties. — A white, opaque powder, odorless, and having a cooling, mildly 

 alkaline taste. Permanent in dry, but slowly decomposed in moist air. Soluble 

 in 10 parts of water, insoluble in alcohol andj ether. Slight alkaline reaction. 



Incompatibles. — Decomposed by acid and acid salts, as bismuth subnitrate. 



Dose.— H., gss-ii, (15-60); Sh. & Sw., 3ss-i, (2-4); D., gr.v-xxx, (.3-2). 



General Action of Sodium Salts. 



Sodium and its salts are said to be less poisonous than the cor- 

 responding salts of potassium because they are less depressing to the 

 circulatory (see p. 102), muscular and nervous systems, but death has 

 occurred after enormous doses. The salts possess a local paralyzing 

 action on nerve and muscular tissue. They are absorbed and eliminated 

 more slowly than the corresponding potassium compounds. Sodium salts 

 alkalize the blood and urine, but are only slightly diuretic. Sodium car- 

 bonate, phosphate, and sulphate diminish the solids in the bile and, there- 

 fore, increase its fluidity. 



Sodium Bicarbonate. 



Action External. — Sodium bicarbonate lessens irritability of the skin 

 in itching and burns. 



Action Internal. — ^When sodium bicarbonate is given internally it 

 counteracts gastric acidity, whether it be normal, abnormal (organic acids 

 from fermentation), or excessive (hyperchlorhydria). It thus relieves 



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