134 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Properties. — A loose, white powder, correspondiDg in 

 solubility to sodium carbonate. Beaction alkaline. Action 

 of sodium carbonate similar to the hydrate, but infrequently 

 employed in medicine. 



Duse.—R. & C, 3ii--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. 



SoDn BiCAEBONAS. Sodium Bicarbonate. Na HCO3. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Soda, baking soda, sodium sesquicarbonate> 

 natrum carbonicum acidulum, bicarbonas sodicus, sodium 

 hydrocarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, E.; natrum bicarboni- 

 cum, P. G.; bicarbonate de soude, sel digestive de vichy, Fr.; 

 doppelkohlensaures natron, G. 



Derivation. — Pass COj through a solution of sodium 

 carbonate. Na, CO3 + CO, + H,0 = 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 11.3 parts 

 of water, insoluble in alcohol and ether. Slight alkaline 

 reaction. 



Incompatibles. — Decomposed by acid and acid salts, as 

 bismuth subnitrate. 



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

 gr.v.-xxx. (.3-2.). 



GENERAL ACTION OE SODIUM SALTS. 



Sodium and its salts are not nearly so poisonous as 

 similar potassium compounds, because they are less depress- 

 ing to the circulatory, 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 corre- 

 sponding potassium compounds. Sodium salts alkalize the 

 blood and urine, but are only slightly diuretic. Sodium 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



