sodium carbonate

noun

: a sodium salt of carbonic acid used especially in making soaps and chemicals, in water softening, in cleaning and bleaching, and in photography: such as

a

: a hygroscopic crystalline anhydrous strongly alkaline salt Na₂CO₃

b

: the transparent crystalline hydrate Na₂CO₃·10H₂O found in nature as natron

Examples of sodium carbonate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ancient Egyptians made the deep and bright blue color with sand, sodium carbonate, or ash and mixed it with copper minerals or pieces of bronze. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023

And last year a demonstration plant in San Antonio began capturing CO2 from a cement plant and converting it into minerals and chemicals, including sodium carbonate, hydrochloric acid and bleach. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Sep. 2015

Workers would extract sodium carbonate in the lake so it could be sold as a chemical additive. —Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2019

Alternatively, soak the T-shirt in soda ash (sodium carbonate) for better color absorption. —Nicole Harris, Parents, 25 Aug. 2023

To provide examples, a 2017 United States Geological Survey report on critical mineral resources noted that lithium carbonate is commonly produced from brine when reacted with sodium carbonate. —Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023

The company has developed an alternative refining method using sodium carbonate and lime instead of heavy sulfuric acid and other chemicals that generate undesirable byproducts. —Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 9 May 2023

Look for detergents that contain ingredients like sodium carbonate or sodium citrate, which are known to be effective at softening water. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023

Instead, they are made with natural ingredients like baking soda, sodium carbonate, and pure essential oils. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sodium carbonate

noun

: a sodium salt used especially in making soaps and chemicals, in water softening, in cleaning and bleaching, and in photography

Medical Definition

sodium carbonate

noun

: a sodium salt of carbonic acid used especially in making soaps and chemicals, in water softening, in cleaning and bleaching, and in photography: as

a

: a hygroscopic crystalline anhydrous strongly alkaline salt Na₂CO₃

b

: washing soda