Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the ashes of many plants. It is synthetically produced in large quantities from table salt and limestone in a process known as the Solvay process.

Uses
The manufacture of glass is one of the most important uses of sodium carbonate.
Sodium carbonate is also used as a relatively strong base in various settings.
Sodium carbonate is often used as an electrolyte.
Sodium carbonate is used as a water softener during laundry in domestic use.
Sodium carbonate added to boiling water will remove flesh from the skull or bones of trophies to create the "European skull mount" or for educational display in biological and historical studies.
CAS No.: 497-19-8