SODIUM CARBONATE 133 



Dose.-H. & C, §ss.-i. (15.-30.); SL & Sw., 3ss.-i. 

 .(2.-4.); D., ITLv. -XX. (.3-1.3). 



Action and f/ies.— Sodium hydroxide and its solution 

 resemble compounds of potassium, but are used chiefly for 

 chemical and pharmaceutical purposes. 



Liquor sodii hydroxidi should be given largely diluted 

 with water. In poisoning by the caustic alkalies or soap 

 lye, use emetics or stomach pump ; and give vinegar, 

 diluted acetic acid, lemon juice and demulcents. 



SoDii Oabbonas. Sodium Carbonate. Na^ CO, 10 H^O. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



/S^/won^/m.— Washing soda, sal soda, carbonas sodicus, 

 E.; natrum carbonicum crudum, P. G.; carbonate de sonde, 

 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, + 2 HCl. 



2nd. Sodium sulphate is heated with carbon. Na^ SO, + 

 4 C == Na, S + 4 CO. 



3rd. Sodium sulphide heated with chalk. Na^ S -F Ca 

 COs = Na, CO3+ Ca S. 



Properties. — Colorless, monoclinic crystals, odorless and 

 having a strongly alkaline taste. In dry air the salt efflor- 

 esces, -loses about half its water of crystallization and 

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

 in 1.02 parts of glycerin. Beaction alkaline. 



SoDn Caebonas Exsiccatus. Dried Sodium Carbonate, 

 Na^CO^. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Natrum carbonicum siccum, P, G.; carbo- 

 nate de sonde, Fr.; getrocknete soda, G. 



Derivation. — Sodium carbonate (200 gm.) is broken into 

 fimall fragments and allowed to effloresce in dry air. It is 

 then heated to drive off water of crystallization, till it weighs 

 100 Gm. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



