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sysprog
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Original thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/remove-an-aluminum-tube.952459/
Adding baking soda to lye, the reaction is NaOH + NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O, i.e. disodium carbonate (commonly called sodium carbonate, or washing soda) plus water.
Although that's less alkalinic than NaOH, in solution the disodium carbonate ionizes as 2 sodium ions plus H2CO3 (carbonic acid -- CO2 plus H2O), and that's still more strongly basic than baking soda -- if you add in baking soda alone, you can't fully titrate lye to neutrality.
NaHCO3, i.e. sodium hydrogen carbonate, compared to neutrality, is a weakly alkalinic salt, which, although it can, in the presence of a stronger base, such as sodium hydroxide, act as an acid, by surrendering its hydrogen, is not correctly designated as by itself an acid.Borek said:Any acid will do, even sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
Adding baking soda to lye, the reaction is NaOH + NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O, i.e. disodium carbonate (commonly called sodium carbonate, or washing soda) plus water.
Although that's less alkalinic than NaOH, in solution the disodium carbonate ionizes as 2 sodium ions plus H2CO3 (carbonic acid -- CO2 plus H2O), and that's still more strongly basic than baking soda -- if you add in baking soda alone, you can't fully titrate lye to neutrality.