Difference between liquid caustic soda and flake caustic soda

In the chemical industry, liquid caustic soda and caustic soda are two common alkaline substances, but they have significant differences in chemical properties, uses and storage methods. This article will analyze the difference between liquid caustic soda and flake caustic soda in detail from many aspects to help readers better understand and apply these two substances.

1. basic concepts and uses

Liquid alkali, usually refers to the aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), is highly corrosive and is widely used in chemical, textile, water treatment and other fields. The concentration range of liquid alkali is usually between 20% and 60%, and its solution is strongly alkaline, which can neutralize acidic substances and has the effect of bleaching and decontamination.

The flake alkali, also known as bleaching alkali, is a solid alkali in the form of sodium hydroxide crystals (such as Na2CO3 · 10H2O), which is widely used in the preparation of bleaching agents, textile auxiliaries and bleaching water in industrial production. Due to its solid state form, the caustic needs to be dissolved in water before it can exert its basic effect.

2. liquid caustic soda and flake caustic soda

1. Form and stability

Liquid alkali mainly exists in the form of aqueous solution, its stability is high, and it is not easy to decompose at room temperature. The flake alkali exists in the form of solid crystal, but it is easy to absorb moisture at high temperature or under dry conditions, and may even decompose to generate sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate.

2. Chemical properties

Liquid alkali is strongly alkaline and can neutralize with acidic substances, which is widely used in water softening and water quality adjustment. Although flake alkali also has alkaline, but its solid form of alkaline is mainly reflected in the alkaline characteristics of dissolved in water, commonly used in bleaching and decolorization.

with the same chemical substance.

Liquid caustic soda and caustic soda are essentially different forms of the same substance. Liquid caustic soda is an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, while caustic soda is a solid crystal of sodium hydroxide. In application, liquid alkali is often used for alkaline adjustment in solution, while flake alkali is used as a solid alkali, such as the core component in bleach.

3. storage and operation

Due to the strong corrosive nature of the solution, liquid alkali should be ventilated and leak-proof during storage to avoid contact with skin and eyes. As a solid base, flake alkali is easy to absorb moisture, but it also needs to be kept dry during storage to avoid deliquescence.

4. application field

Liquid caustic soda is widely used in water treatment, textile industry and chemical industry, especially in water softening, decontamination and neutralization of acidic substances. The flake alkali is mainly used for bleaching, textile auxiliaries and bleaching water production, with significant bleaching effect.

5. summary

Although both liquid caustic soda and caustic soda are different forms of sodium hydroxide, there are significant differences in use, storage methods and practical applications. Liquid alkali as an aqueous solution is often used for alkaline adjustment in solution, and flake alkali as a solid alkali is mainly used for bleaching and decolorization. Understanding the difference between these two substances helps to select and apply them more rationally, thereby improving production efficiency and operating safety.