Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide, commonly called caustic soda or lye, is a strong inorganic base with the chemical formula NaOH. It is widely used in industry, laboratories, and household products because of its powerful alkaline properties.

Basic properties

• Appearance: White, crystalline, odorless solid at room temperature; can also be handled as a colorless liquid solution.
• Solubility and behavior: Highly soluble in water, generating a lot of heat when dissolved; it is also hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from air) and reacts violently with strong acids.
• Corrosiveness: Strongly corrosive to skin, eyes, and tissues; can cause severe chemical burns and tissue damage upon contact or ingestion.

Chemical and physical data

• Formula: NaOH
• Molar mass: About 39.997 g/mol
• Melting point: Around 318 °C
• Boiling point: Around 1,388 °C
• pH of concentrated solution: Typically about pH 13–14, depending on concentration.

Major uses

• Industrial: Manufacture of soap, paper, textiles (rayon), detergents, and many chemicals; used in metal cleaning, electroplating, and wastewater treatment.
• Household: Key ingredient in drain and oven cleaners, where it dissolves greases and fats.
• Laboratory: Commonly used as a strong base for titrations, pH adjustment, and demonstrations of the pH scale.