| Available commercially in solid form such as | | | | processed with the substance. The German |
| pellets, chips, and sticks or in solutions of various | | | | pretzels, for instance, are poached in a cold |
| concentrations, sodium hydroxide is a relatively | | | | sodium hydroxide solution before they are baked. |
| cheap but efficient substance that is used by | | | | Also, the substance is responsible for the gelling of |
| different industries. Besides its being cheap, | | | | egg whites in Century eggs production. |
| another advantage of using the chemical is that it | | | | Furthermore, the chemical is used in cotton fabric |
| is both easy to detect and to dispose. It is known | | | | processing, metal processing and cleaning, |
| in other names such as caustic soda, lye, soda | | | | laundering and bleaching, oxide coating, electrolytic |
| lye, white caustic, and sodium hydrate. | | | | extracting, and electroplating. |
| One of the main contributions of caustic soda is in | | | | Just like any chemical, there are proper storage |
| paper production, specifically in breaking down the | | | | and handling measures that must be observed in |
| lignin in wood. Lignin holds cellulose fibers together | | | | order to avoid accidents. It must be stored in a |
| in wood. Its removal then allows the freed | | | | tightly-closed container, and make sure that its |
| cellulose fibers to form into paper. Another | | | | storage area is cool, dry, well-ventilated, and |
| common use of the substance is in the production | | | | away from sources of heat, moisture, and |
| of chemicals. It is usually used in off-gas scrubbing, | | | | incompatibilities. When handling the substance, |
| pH control, and neutralization of acid. Its | | | | make sure that proper protective equipment is |
| importance in the petroleum and natural gas | | | | worn, such as protective eyeglasses or chemical |
| industry, on the other hand, is that it is used to | | | | safety goggles, and protective gloves. |
| remove acidic contaminants in oil and gas | | | | The importance of these measures cannot be |
| processing. | | | | overlooked as the substance can have health |
| The substance is also valuable in the manufacture | | | | implications when not used properly. Its contact |
| of household cleaning agents such as drain | | | | with the eyes, for instance, may lead to |
| cleaners and oven cleaners. When cleaners contain | | | | irreversible eye injury. Skin contact, on the other |
| sodium hydroxide, they tend to convert fats, | | | | hand, may cause irritation as well as severe burns |
| which most clogged pipes contain, into soap. The | | | | and scarring. Furthermore, ingestion can lead to |
| heat that is produced when the substance | | | | severe burns of mouth, throat, and stomach, and |
| dissolves in water also helps melt the clog. | | | | even death. Vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding are |
| Moreover, it is used as a cleaner in wineries and | | | | some of the symptoms when a person has |
| breweries. The cleaning process, basically, is that it | | | | swallowed the substance. |
| is added to water, heated, and then it is made | | | | The first aid measures that can be taken in cases |
| use of to clean big stainless steel tanks where | | | | of accidents include flushing of the skin or eyes |
| wine is fermented or beer is brewed. These tanks | | | | with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes in |
| are also where the product is stored before it is | | | | case of skin or eye contact. In case of ingestion, |
| bottled. | | | | do not induce vomiting. Instead, give the person |
| The wideness of the use of caustic soda or lye | | | | with plenty of water or milk. More importantly, |
| extends to the food industry. The substance is | | | | seek medical help immediately. |
| used in the production of caramel coloring, | | | | Sodium hydroxide is indeed very useful because |
| chocolate and cocoa processing, poultry scalding, | | | | while it is relatively cheap, it is efficient. But of |
| and in the chemical peeling of fruits and | | | | course, it is not exempted from those chemicals |
| vegetables. There are also certain foods that are | | | | that must be used and handled with great care. |