Sodium hydroxide is useful for its ability to alter fats. It is used to make soap and as a main ingredient in household products such as liquid drain cleaners. Sodium hydroxide is usually sold in pure form as white pellets or as a solution in water.
What can I clean with sodium hydroxide?
Sodium hydroxide is frequently used as an industrial cleaning agent where it is often called "caustic". It is added to water, heated, and then used to clean process equipment, storage tanks, etc. It can dissolve grease, oils, fats and protein based deposits.
Is sodium hydroxide safe?
According to the the FDA, sodium hydroxide is considered a direct food recognized as safe, where it serves as a pH control agent and follows good manufacturing guidelines.
What happens if you get sodium hydroxide on your skin?
Skin Contact: CORROSIVE. Contact can cause pain, redness, burns, and blistering. Permanent scarring can result. A severe exposure can cause death.
Is sodium hydroxide harmful for skin?
Exposure to sodium hydroxide solid or solution can cause skin and eye irritation. Direct contact with the solid or with concentrated solutions causes thermal and chemical burns leading to deep-tissue injuries.
Can sodium hydroxide burn your skin?
Sodium hydroxide is caustic. Workers who come in contact with sodium hydroxide can be harmed. The level of harm depends upon the amount, duration, and activity. It can burn the eyes, skin, and inner membranes, and cause temporary hair loss.
Why is sodium hydroxide in moisturizer?
Why Is Sodium Hydroxide Used? The main function of sodium hydroxide in cosmetics and personal care products is to establish and hold the pH of a product. In chemistry, pH stands for 'potential hydrogen' and it refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity in a given solution.Jul 6, 2021
Is sodium hydroxide the same as baking soda?
No. baking soda is sodium (hence the "soda" in the name) bicarbonate (NaHCO3), while lye (also known as "caustic soda") is sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Does baking soda contain sodium hydroxide?
Baking soda is another name for sodium bicarbonate. - Sodium hydroxide comes from carbonate sodium, formerly known as 'caustic soda'. Sodium hydroxide is highly hygroscopic, absorbing in the air moisture, carbon dioxide, or sulfur dioxide.
Can you use baking soda instead of sodium hydroxide?
A common home alternative to lye when making pretzels or bagels is to use a baking soda solution. This isn't an ideal substitute, though, because baking soda on its own is still way less alkali than lye, and doesn't offer that distinctive crust and flavor.May 8, 2014
What is a substitute for sodium hydroxide?
In summary, magnesium hydroxide is a safe alternative alkali to use as a replacement for sodium hydroxide and is readily available as both a powder and as 63% solids slurry.
Why is sodium hydroxide dangerous?
Contact with very high concentrations of sodium hydroxide can cause severe burns to the eyes, skin, digestive system or lungs, resulting in permanent damage or death. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis. Repeated inhalation of sodium hydroxide vapor can lead to permanent lung damage.
How much sodium hydroxide is dangerous?
NIOSH Standards: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 2 mg/m3, which should not be exceeded at any time. The NIOSH IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health) value is 10 mg/m3.