What Is pH of Sodium Carbonate in Water?
Sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda, is a common ingredient in laundry detergents. When dissolved in water, it tends to form solutions with pH values between 11 and 12.
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Water
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Water, H?O, undergoes a process known as autodissociation, in which it separates into a hydrogen ion (H?) and a hydroxide ion (OH?):<br /><br />H?O ? H? + OH?
pH
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pH is actually a measure of the amount of H? in a solution and ranges from 0 to 14.<br /><br />In general terms, a pH greater than 7 indicates an alkaline (or basic) solution (more OH? than H?). A pH less than 7 indicates an acidic solution (more H? than OH?). A pH of 7 indicates a neutral solution, such as water (H? and OH? are equal).
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Sodium Carbonate
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Sodium carbonate (Na?CO?), also known as washing soda, produces sodium ions (Na?) and carbonate ions (CO?²?) when dissolved in water:<br /><br />Na?CO? ? 2 Na? + CO?²?<br /><br />The sodium ions have no influence on the pH of the resulting solution. The carbonate ions, however, are basic and make the solution alkaline by increasing the amount of OH?:<br /><br />CO?²? + H?O ? HCO?? + OH?
Concentration and pH
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The important part of pH is that it depends on concentration. That is, dissolving two tablespoons of sodium carbonate in a glass of water will result in a higher pH than dissolving one tablespoon.
Mixing Instructions
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One gram (0.035 ounces) of sodium carbonate dissolved in water and diluted to 1.0 liter (about 1 quart) will produce a solution of pH 11.37.<br /><br />Five grams (0.18 ounces) of sodium carbonate dissolved in water and diluted to 1.0 liter (about 1 quart) will produce a solution of pH 11.58.<br /><br />Ten grams (0.35 ounces) of sodium carbonate dissolved in water and diluted to 1.0 liter (about 1 quart) will produce a solution of pH 11.70.
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