Sodium carbonate preparation in Solvay process

 

Sodium carbonate is an important inorganic compound with chemical formula, Na₂CO₃. Earlier it was called soapstone (sajimati). It is also called washing soda, soda ash, soda crystals etc. Sodium carbonate is a very important laboratory reagent.

It also has many important uses. This is why Na₂CO₃ is prepared in large scale industrial processes. Industrial production of Na₂CO₃ is done by three methods. For example, Solvay method, electrolytic method and Le Blanc method.

 

Among these methods, Na₂CO₃ preparation by Solvay method is the simplest and least expensive. Solvay process is also called ammonia soda process.