Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda or lye, is a highly caustic metallic base and alkali salt. It is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaOH. Sodium hydroxide is a white solid at room temperature and is highly soluble in water, creating an exothermic reaction. It is used in various industries including chemical manufacturing, paper production, soap making, and water treatment.

Properties of Sodium Hydroxide

Physical State: Solid
Color: White
Odor: Odorless
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
pH: Highly alkaline (pH > 13)

Chemical Reactions

Sodium hydroxide is a strong base and reacts with various substances. Some common reactions include:

Neutralization: Reacts with acids to form salt and water
Saponification: Reacts with fats and oils to produce soap
Hydrolysis: Reacts with certain metals to form hydrogen gas
Corrosion: Can corrode certain materials including aluminum and glass

Uses of Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide has numerous industrial and household applications:

Chemical Manufacturing: Used in the production of various chemicals including detergents, textiles, and plastics
Water Treatment: Used to adjust pH levels and remove heavy metals from water
Soap Making: Utilized in the saponification process to produce soap
Paper Production: Used in the pulping and bleaching processes
Alumina Production: Used in the refining of bauxite ore to produce alumina for aluminum production

Precautions

When handling sodium hydroxide, it is important to take precautions due to its caustic nature:

Wear protective gloves and goggles to avoid skin and eye contact
Avoid inhaling fumes or dust particles
Store in a cool, dry place away from incompatible materials
Dispose of properly according to local regulations

Study Guide

When studying sodium hydroxide, focus on the following key points:

Chemical formula and molecular structure
Physical and chemical properties of sodium hydroxide
Common reactions involving sodium hydroxide
Industrial and household uses of sodium hydroxide
Safety precautions when handling sodium hydroxide

Be sure to practice balancing chemical equations involving sodium hydroxide and understand its role in various industrial processes.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Eighth Grade. Chemical reactions

Vocabulary/Answer key

Chemical reactions

Vocabulary/Answer key

Chemical reactions

The resources above cover the following skills:

Chemistry: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the composition, structure, and interactions of matter in order to support the predictability of structure and energy transformations.

Conservation of Matter: Provide evidence to support the fact that the idea of atoms explains conservation of matter.

Cite evidence from investigations that the total mass of a system remains the same throughout a chemical reaction because the number of atoms of each element remains the same.

Give reasons to justify the statement, 'If the number of atoms stays the same no matter how the same atoms are rearranged, then their total mass stays the same.'

Physical and Chemical Changes: Provide evidence to support the fact that common substances have the ability to change into new substances.

Investigate and describe the occurrence of chemical reactions using the following evidence: Color change; Formation of a precipitate or gas; Release of heat or light.

Use evidence from observations to identify and describe factors that influence reaction rates: Change in temperature; Acidity.

Identify the reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction given a symbolic equation, a word equation, or a description of the reaction.

Provide data from investigations to support the fact that energy is transformed during chemical reactions.