Sodium hydroxide - wikipedia Sodium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide Names Preferred IUPAC name Sodium hydroxide Systematic IUPAC name Sodium oxidanide Other names Caustic soda Lye Ascarite White caustic Sodium hydrate Identifiers CAS Number 1310 - 73 - 2 3D model ( JSmol ) Interactive image ChEBI CHEBI : 32145 ChemSpider 14114 ECHA InfoCard 100.013. 805 EC Number 215 - 185 - 5 E number E524 ( acidity regulators,... ) Gmelin Reference 68430 KEGG D01169 MeSH Sodium + Hydroxide PubChem CID 14798 RTECS number WB4900000 UNII 55X04QC32I UN number 1824 InChI InChI = 1S / Na. H2O / h ; 1H2 / q + 1 ; / p - 1 Key : HEMHJVSKTPXQMS - UHFFFAOYSA - M InChI = 1 / Na. H2O / h ; 1H2 / q + 1 ; / p - 1 Key : HEMHJVSKTPXQMS - REWHXWOFAM SMILES O ( Na ) Properties Chemical formula NaOH Molar mass 39.9971 g mol Appearance White, waxy, opaque crystals Odor odorless Density 2.13 g / cm Melting point 318 ° C ( 604 ° F ; 591 K ) Boiling point 1,388 ° C ( 2,530 ° F ; 1,661 K ) Solubility in water 418 g / L ( 0 ° C ) 1110 g / L ( 20 ° C ) 3370 g / L ( 100 ° C ) Solubility soluble in glycerol negligible in ammonia insoluble in ether slowly soluble in propylene glycol Solubility in methanol 238 g / L Solubility in ethanol < < 139 g / L Vapor pressure < 2.4 kPa ( at 20 ° C ) Basicity ( pK ) − 0.93 ( NaOH ( aq ) = Na + OH ) Magnetic susceptibility ( χ ) − 16.0 10 cm / mol Refractive index ( n ) 1.3576 Thermochemistry Specific heat capacity ( C ) 59.66 J / mol K Std molar entropy ( S ) 64 J mol K Std enthalpy of formation ( Δ H ) − 427 kJ mol Gibbs free energy ( Δ G  ̊ ) - 380.7 kJ / mol Hazards Safety data sheet External MSDS GHS pictograms GHS signal word Danger GHS hazard statements H314 GHS precautionary statements P280, P305 + 351 + 338, P310 NFPA 704 0 ALK Lethal dose or concentration ( LD, LC ) : LD ( median dose ) 40 mg / kg ( mouse, intraperitoneal ) LD ( lowest published ) 500 mg / kg ( rabbit, oral ) US health exposure limits ( NIOSH ) : PEL ( Permissible ) TWA 2 mg / m REL ( Recommended ) C 2 mg / m IDLH ( Immediate danger ) 10 mg / m Related compounds Other anions Sodium hydrosulfide Other cations Caesium hydroxide Lithium hydroxide Potassium hydroxide Rubidium hydroxide Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state ( at 25 ° C ( 77 ° F ), 100 kPa ). Y verify ( what is ? ) Infobox references Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with formula NaOH. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na + and hydroxide anions OH −. Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic base and alkali, that decomposes proteins at ordinary ambient temperatures and may cause severe chemical burns. It is highly soluble in water and readily absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the air. It forms a series of hydrates NaOH nH 2O. The monohydrate NaOH H 2O cystallizes from water solutions between 12.3 and 61.8 ° C. The commercially available `` sodium hydroxide '' is often this monohydrate, and published data may refer to it instead of the anhydrous compound. Sodium hydroxide is used in many industries in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, soaps and detergents and as a drain cleaner. Worldwide production in 2004 was approximately 60 million tonnes, while demand was 51 million tonnes. Contents 1 Properties 1.1 Physical properties 1.1. 1 Hydrates 1.1. 2 Crystal structure 1.2 Chemical properties 1.2. 1 Reaction with acids 1.2. 2 Reaction with acidic oxides 1.2. 3 Reaction with amphoteric metals and oxides 1.2. 4 Precipitant 1.2. 5 Saponification 2 Production 3 Uses 3.1 Chemical pulping 3.2 Tissue digestion 3.3 Dissolving amphoteric metals and compounds 3.4 Esterification and transesterification reagent 3.5 Food preparation 3.6 Cleaning agent 3.7 Water treatment 3.8 Historical uses 3.9 In cement mixes, mortars, concrete, grouts 3.10 Experimental 3.10. 1 Flavonoids 3.10. 2 Summer - winter heat storage 4 Safety 5 History 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External links Properties Physical properties Pure sodium hydroxide is a colorless crystalline solid that melts at 318 ° C without decomposition. It is highly soluble in water, with a lower solubility in ethanol and methanol, but is insoluble in ether and other non-polar solvents. Similar to the hydration of sulfuric acid, dissolution of solid sodium hydroxide in water is a highly exothermic reaction in which a large amount of heat is liberated, posing a threat to safety through the possibility of splashing. The resulting solution is usually colourless and odorless. As with other alkaline solutions, it feels slippery when it comes in contact with skin due to saponification. Hydrates Sodium hydroxide can form several hydrates NaOH nH 2O, which result in a complex solubility diagram that was described in detail by S.U. Pickering in 1893. The known hydrates and the approximate ranges of temperature and concentration ( mass percent of NaOH ) of their saturated water solutions are : Heptahydrate, NaOH 7H 2O : from − 28 ° C ( 18.8 % ) to − 24 ° C ( 22.2 % ). Pentahydrate, NaOH 5H 2O : from − 24 ° C ( 22.2 % ) to − 17.7 ( 24.8 % ). Tetrahydrate, NaOH 4H 2O, α form : from − 17.7 ( 24.8 % ) to + 5.4 ° C ( 32.5 % ). Tetrahydrate, NaOH 4H 2O, β form : metastable. NaOH 3.5 H 2O : from + 5.4 ° C ( 32.5 % ) to + 15.38 ° C ( 38.8 % ) and then to + 5.0 ° C ( 45.7 % ). Trihydrate, NaOH 3H 2O : metastable. Dihydrate, NaOH 2H 2O : from + 5.0 ° C ( 45.7 % ) to + 12.3 ° C ( 51 % ). Monohydrate, NaOH H 2O : from + 12.3 ° C ( 51 % ) to 65.10 ° C ( 69 % ) then to 62.63 ° C ( 73.1 % ). Early reports refer to hydrates with n = 0.5 or n = 2 / 3, but later careful investigations failed to confirm their existence. The only hydrates with stable melting points are NaOH H 2O ( 65.10 ° C ) and NaOH 3.5 H 2O ( 15.38 ° C ). The other hydrates, except the metastable ones NaOH 3H 2O and NaOH 4H 2O ( β ) can be crystallized from solutions of the proper composition, as listed above. However, solutions of NaOH can be easily supercooled by many degrees, which allows the formation of hydrates ( including the metastable ones ) from solutions with different concentrations. For example, when a solution of NaOH and water with 1 : 2 mole ratio ( 52.6 % NaOH by mass ) is cooled, the monohydrate normally starts to crystallize ( at about 22 ° C ) before the dihydrate. However, the solution can easily be supercooled down to - 15 ° C, at which point it may quickly crystallize as the dihydrate. When heated, the solid dihydrate might melt directly into a solution at 13.35 ° C ; however, once the temperature exceeds 12.58 ° C. it often decomposes into solid monohydrate and a liquid solution. Even the n = 3.5 hydrate is difficult to crystallize because the solution supercools so much that other hydrates become more stable. A hot water solution containing 73.1 % ( mass ) of NaOH is an eutectic that solidifies at about 62.63 ° C as an intimate mix of anhydrous and monohydrate crystals. A second stable eutectic composition is 45.4 % ( mass ) of NaOH, that solidifies at about 4.9 ° C into a mixture of crystals of the dihydrate and of the 3.5 - hydrate. The third stable eutectic has 18.4 % ( mass ) of NaOH. It solidifies at about − 28.7 ° C as a mixture of water ice and the heptahydrate NaOH 7H 2O. When solutions with less than 18.4 % NaOH are cooled, water ice crystallizes first, leaving the NaOH in solution. The α form of the tetrahydrate has density 1.33 g / cm. It melts congruously at 7.55 ° C into a liquid with 35.7 % NaOH and density 1.392 g / cm, and therefore floats on it like ice on water. However, at about 4.9 ° C it may instead melt incongruously into a mixture of solid NaOH 3.5 H 2O and a liquid solution. The β form of the tetrahydrate is metastable, and often transforms spontaneously to the α form when cooled below − 20 ° C. Once initiated, the exothermic transformation is complete in a few minutes, with a 6.5 % increase in volume of the solid. The β form can be crystallized from supercooled solutions at − 26 ° C, and melts partially at − 1.83 ° C. The `` sodium hydroxide '' of commerce is often the monohydrate ( density 1.829 g / cm ). Physical data in technical literature may refer to this form, rather than the anhydrous compound. Crystal structure The monohydrate cyrstallizes in the space group Pbca, with cell dimensions a = 1.1825, b = 0.6213, c = 0.6069 nm. The atoms are arranged in a hydrargillite - like layer structure / O Na OO Na O /... Each sodium atom is surrounded by six oxygen atoms, three each from hydroxyl anions HO − and three from water molecules. The hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyls form strong bonds with oxygen atoms within each O layer. Adjacent O layers are held together by hydrogen bonds between water molecules. Chemical properties Reaction with acids Sodium hydroxide reacts with protic acids to produce water and the corresponding salts. For example, when sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride is formed : NaOH ( aq ) + HCl ( aq ) → NaCl ( aq ) + H O ( l ) In general, such neutralization reactions are represented by one simple net ionic equation : OH ( aq ) + H ( aq ) → H O ( l ) This type of reaction with a strong acid releases heat, and hence is exothermic. Such acid - base reactions can also be used for titrations. However, sodium hydroxide is not used as a primary standard because it is hygroscopic and absorbs carbon dioxide from air. Reaction with acidic oxides Sodium hydroxide also reacts with acidic oxides, such as sulfur dioxide. Such reactions are often used to `` scrub '' harmful acidic gases ( like SO and H S ) produced in the burning of coal and thus prevent their release into the atmosphere. For example, 2 NaOH + SO → Na SO + H O Reaction with amphoteric metals and oxides Glass reacts slowly with aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions at ambient temperatures to form soluble silicates. Because of this, glass joints and stopcocks exposed to sodium hydroxide have a tendency to `` freeze ''. Flasks and glass - lined chemical reactors are damaged by long exposure to hot sodium hydroxide, which also frosts the glass. Sodium hydroxide does not attack iron since iron does not have amphoteric properties ( i.e., it only dissolves in acid, not base ). A few transition metals, however, may react vigorously with sodium hydroxide. In 1986, an aluminium road tanker in the UK was mistakenly used to transport 25 % sodium hydroxide solution, causing pressurization of the contents and damage to the tanker. The pressurization was due to the hydrogen gas which is produced in the reaction between sodium hydroxide and aluminium : 2 Al + 2 NaOH + 6 H O → 2 NaAl ( OH ) + 3 H Precipitant Unlike sodium hydroxide, the hydroxides of most transition metals are insoluble, and therefore sodium hydroxide can be used to precipitate transition metal hydroxides. The following colours are observed : blue - copper, green - iron ( II ), yellow / brown - iron ( III ). Zinc and lead salts dissolve in excess sodium hydroxide to give a clear solution of Na ZnO or Na PbO. Aluminium hydroxide is used as a gelatinous flocculant to filter out particulate matter in water treatment. Aluminium hydroxide is prepared at the treatment plant from aluminium sulfate by reacting it with sodium hydroxide or bicarbonate. Al ( SO ) + 6 NaOH → 2 Al ( OH ) + 3 Na SO Al ( SO ) + 6 NaHCO → 2 Al ( OH ) + 3 Na SO + 6 CO Saponification Sodium hydroxide can be used for the base - driven hydrolysis of esters ( as in saponification ), amides and alkyl halides. However, the limited solubility of sodium hydroxide in organic solvents means that the more soluble potassium hydroxide ( KOH ) is often preferred. Touching sodium hydroxide solution with the bare hands, while not recommended, produces a slippery feeling. This happens because the oils of the hand are converted to soap. Despite solubility in propylene glycol it is unlikely to replace water in saponificaction due to propylene glycol primary reaction with fat before reaction between sodium hydroxide and fat. Production Sodium hydroxide is industrially produced as a 50 % solution by variations of the electrolytic chloralkali process. Chlorine gas is also produced in this process. Solid sodium hydroxide is obtained from this solution by the evaporation of water. Solid sodium hydroxide is most commonly sold as flakes, prills, and cast blocks. In 2004, world production was estimated at 60 million dry metric tonnes of sodium hydroxide, and demand was estimated at 51 million tonnes. In 1998, total world production was around 45 million tonnes. North America and Asia each contributed around 14 million tonnes, while Europe produced around 10 million tonnes. In the United States, the major producer of sodium hydroxide is the Dow Chemical Company, which has annual production around 3.7 million tonnes from sites at Freeport, Texas, and Plaquemine, Louisiana. Other major US producers include Oxychem, PPG, Olin, Pioneer Companies, Inc. ( PIONA, which was purchased by Olin ), and Formosa. All of these companies use the chloralkali process. Historically, sodium hydroxide was produced by treating sodium carbonate with calcium hydroxide in a metathesis reaction. ( Sodium hydroxide is soluble while calcium carbonate is not. ) This process was called causticizing. Ca ( OH ) ( aq ) + Na CO ( s ) → CaCO ↓ + 2 NaOH ( aq ) This process was superseded by the Solvay process in the late 19th century, which was in turn supplanted by the chloralkali process which we use today. Sodium hydroxide is also produced by combining pure sodium metal with water. The byproducts are hydrogen gas and heat, often resulting in a flame, making this a common demonstration of the reactivity of alkali metals in academic environments ; however, it is not commercially viable, as the isolation of sodium metal is typically performed by reduction or electrolysis of sodium compounds including sodium hydroxide. For further information in historical production, see alkali manufacture. Uses Canister of sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is a popular strong base used in industry. Around 56 % of sodium hydroxide produced is used by industry, 25 % of which is used in the paper industry. Sodium hydroxide is also used in the manufacture of sodium salts and detergents, pH regulation, and organic synthesis. It is used in the Bayer process of aluminium production. In bulk, it is most often handled as an aqueous solution, since solutions are cheaper and easier to handle. Sodium hydroxide is used in many scenarios where it is desirable to increase the alkalinity of a mixture, or to neutralize acids. For example, in the petroleum industry, sodium hydroxide is used as an additive in drilling mud to increase alkalinity in bentonite mud systems, to increase the mud viscosity, and to neutralize any acid gas ( such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide ) which may be encountered in the geological formation as drilling progresses. Poor quality crude oil can be treated with sodium hydroxide to remove sulfurous impurities in a process known as caustic washing. As above, sodium hydroxide reacts with weak acids such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans to yield non-volatile sodium salts, which can be removed. The waste which is formed is toxic and difficult to deal with, and the process is banned in many countries because of this. In 2006, Trafigura used the process and then dumped the waste in Africa. See also : Hydrodesulfurization Chemical pulping Main article : Pulp ( paper ) Sodium hydroxide is also widely used in pulping of wood for making paper or regenerated fibers. Along with sodium sulfide, sodium hydroxide is a key component of the white liquor solution used to separate lignin from cellulose fibers in the kraft process. It also plays a key role in several later stages of the process of bleaching the brown pulp resulting from the pulping process. These stages include oxygen delignification, oxidative extraction, and simple extraction, all of which require a strong alkaline environment with a pH > 10.5 at the end of the stages. Tissue digestion In a similar fashion, sodium hydroxide is used to digest tissues, as in a process that was used with farm animals at one time. This process involved placing a carcass into a sealed chamber, then adding a mixture of sodium hydroxide and water ( which breaks the chemical bonds that keep the flesh intact ). This eventually turns the body into a liquid with coffee - like appearance, and the only solid that remains are bone hulls, which could be crushed between one 's fingertips. Sodium hydroxide is frequently used in the process of decomposing roadkill dumped in landfills by animal disposal contractors. Due to its low cost and availability, it has been used to dispose of corpses by criminals. Italian serial killer Leonarda Cianciulli used this chemical to turn dead bodies into soap. In Mexico, a man who worked for drug cartels admitted disposing of over 300 bodies with it. Sodium hydroxide is a dangerous chemical due to its ability to hydrolyze protein. If a dilute solution is spilled on the skin, burns may result if the area is not washed thoroughly and for several minutes with running water. Splashes in the eye can be more serious and can lead to blindness. This danger is often overlooked. Dissolving amphoteric metals and compounds Strong bases attack aluminium. Sodium hydroxide reacts with aluminium and water to release hydrogen gas. The aluminium takes the oxygen atom from sodium hydroxide, which in turn takes the oxygen atom from the water, and releases the two hydrogen atoms, The reaction thus produces hydrogen gas and sodium aluminate. In this reaction, sodium hydroxide acts as an agent to make the solution alkaline, which aluminium can dissolve in. This reaction can be useful in etching, removing anodizing, or converting a polished surface to a satin - like finish, but without further passivation such as anodizing or alodining the surface may become degraded, either under normal use or in severe atmospheric conditions. In the Bayer process, sodium hydroxide is used in the refining of alumina containing ores ( bauxite ) to produce alumina ( aluminium oxide ) which is the raw material used to produce aluminium metal via the electrolytic Hall - Héroult process. Since the alumina is amphoteric, it dissolves in the sodium hydroxide, leaving impurities less soluble at high pH such as iron oxides behind in the form of a highly alkaline red mud. See also : Ajka alumina plant accident Other amphoteric metals are zinc and lead which dissolve in concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions to give sodium zincate and sodium plumbate respectively. Esterification and transesterification reagent Sodium hydroxide is traditionally used in soap making ( cold process soap, saponification ). It was made in the nineteenth century for a hard surface rather than liquid product because it was easier to store and transport. For the manufacture of biodiesel, sodium hydroxide is used as a catalyst for the transesterification of methanol and triglycerides. This only works with anhydrous sodium hydroxide, because combined with water the fat would turn into soap, which would be tainted with methanol. NaOH is used more often than potassium hydroxide because it is cheaper and a smaller quantity is needed. Food preparation Food uses of sodium hydroxide include washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables, chocolate and cocoa processing, caramel coloring production, poultry scalding, soft drink processing, and thickening ice cream. Olives are often soaked in sodium hydroxide for softening ; Pretzels and German lye rolls are glazed with a sodium hydroxide solution before baking to make them crisp. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining food grade sodium hydroxide in small quantities for home use, sodium carbonate is often used in place of sodium hydroxide. Specific foods processed with sodium hydroxide include : The Norwegian dish known as lutefisk ( from lutfisk, `` lye fish '' ). Hominy is dried maize ( corn ) kernels reconstituted by soaking in lye - water. These expand considerably in size and may be further processed by frying to make corn nuts or by drying and grinding to make grits. Nixtamal is similar, but uses calcium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is also the chemical that causes gelling of egg whites in the production of Century eggs. German pretzels are poached in a boiling sodium carbonate solution or cold sodium hydroxide solution before baking, which contributes to their unique crust. Bagels are often boiled in a lye solution before baking, contributing to their shiny crust. Lye - water is an essential ingredient in the crust of the traditional baked Chinese moon cakes. Most yellow coloured Chinese noodles are made with lye - water but are commonly mistaken for containing egg. Some methods of preparing olives involve subjecting them to a lye - based brine. The Filipino dessert ( kakanin ) called kutsinta uses a small quantity of lye water to help give the rice flour batter a jelly like consistency. A similar process is also used in the kakanin known as pitsi - pitsi or pichi - pichi except that the mixture uses grated cassava instead of rice flour. Cleaning agent Main article : Cleaning agent Sodium hydroxide is frequently used as an industrial cleaning agent where it is often called `` caustic ''. It is added to water, heated, and then used to clean process equipment, storage tanks, etc. It can dissolve grease, oils, fats and protein - based deposits. It is also used for cleaning waste discharge pipes under sinks and drains in domestic properties. Surfactants can be added to the sodium hydroxide solution in order to stabilize dissolved substances and thus prevent redeposition. A sodium hydroxide soak solution is used as a powerful degreaser on stainless steel and glass bakeware. It is also a common ingredient in oven cleaners. A common use of sodium hydroxide is in the production of parts washer detergents. Parts washer detergents based on sodium hydroxide are some of the most aggressive parts washer cleaning chemicals. The sodium hydroxide - based detergents include surfactants, rust inhibitors and defoamers. A parts washer heats water and the detergent in a closed cabinet and then sprays the heated sodium hydroxide and hot water at pressure against dirty parts for degreasing applications. Sodium hydroxide used in this manner replaced many solvent - based systems in the early 1990s when trichloroethane was outlawed by the Montreal Protocol. Water and sodium hydroxide detergent - based parts washers are considered to be an environmental improvement over the solvent - based cleaning methods. Hardware stores grade sodium hydroxide to be used as a type of drain cleaner. Paint stripping with caustic soda Sodium hydroxide is used in the home as a type of drain opener to unblock clogged drains, usually in the form of a dry crystal or as a thick liquid gel. The alkali dissolves greases to produce water soluble products. It also hydrolyzes the proteins such as those found in hair which may block water pipes. These reactions are sped by the heat generated when sodium hydroxide and the other chemical components of the cleaner dissolve in water. Such alkaline drain cleaners and their acidic versions are highly corrosive and should be handled with great caution. Sodium hydroxide is used in some relaxers to straighten hair. However, because of the high incidence and intensity of chemical burns, manufacturers of chemical relaxers use other alkaline chemicals in preparations available to average consumers. Sodium hydroxide relaxers are still available, but they are used mostly by professionals. A solution of sodium hydroxide in water was traditionally used as the most common paint stripper on wooden objects. Its use has become less common, because it can damage the wood surface, raising the grain and staining the colour. Water treatment Sodium hydroxide is sometimes used during water purification to raise the pH of water supplies. Increased pH makes the water less corrosive to plumbing and reduces the amount of lead, copper and other toxic metals that can dissolve into drinking water. Historical uses Sodium hydroxide has been used for detection of carbon monoxide poisoning, with blood samples of such patients turning to a vermilion color upon the addition of a few drops of sodium hydroxide. Today, carbon monoxide poisoning can be detected by CO oximetry. In cement mixes, mortars, concrete, grouts Sodium hydroxide is used in some cement mix plasticisers. This helps homogenise cement mixes, preventing segregation of sands and cement, decreases the amount of water required in a mix and increases workability of the cement product, be it mortar, render or concrete. Experimental Flavonoids See : Sodium hydroxide test for flavonoids Summer - winter heat storage EMPA researchers are experimenting with concentrated sodium hydroxide ( NaOH ) as the thermal storage or seasonal reservoir medium for domestic space - heating. If water is added to solid or concentrated sodium hydroxide ( NaOH ), heat is released. The dilution is exothermic - chemical energy is released in the form of heat. Conversely, by applying heat energy into a dilute sodium hydroxide solution the water will evaporate so that the solution become more concentrated and thus store the supplied heat as latent chemical energy. ) Safety Chemical burns caused by sodium hydroxide solution photographed 44 hours after exposure. Like other corrosive acids and alkalis, drops of sodium hydroxide solutions can readily decompose proteins and lipids in living tissues via amide hydrolysis and ester hydrolysis, which consequently cause chemical burns and may induce permanent blindness upon contact with eyes. Solid alkali can also express its corrosive nature if there is water, such as water vapor. Thus, protective equipment, like rubber gloves, safety clothing and eye protection, should always be used when handling this chemical or its solutions. The standard first aid measures for alkali spills on the skin is, as for other corrosives, irrigation with large quantities of water. Washing is continued for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Lithium battery cells, if ingested, cause serious injuries, even if not crushed. The damage is caused, not by the contents of the battery, but by the electric current it creates, which causes sodium hydroxide to build up and burn through the oesophagus and into major blood vessels, which can cause fatal bleeding. Moreover, dissolution of sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic, and the resulting heat may cause heat burns or ignite flammables. It also produces heat when reacted with acids. Sodium hydroxide is corrosive to several metals, like aluminium which reacts with the alkali to produce flammable hydrogen gas on contact : 2 Al + 6 NaOH → 3 H + 2 Na AlO 2 Al + 2 NaOH + 2 H O → 3 H + 2 NaAlO 2 Al + 2 NaOH + 6 H O → 3 H + 2 NaAl ( OH ) Sodium hydroxide is also mildly corrosive to glass, which can cause damage to glazing or cause ground glass joints to bind. Careful storage is needed. History Sodium hydroxide was first prepared by soap makers. A procedure for making sodium hydroxide appeared as part of a recipe for making soap in an Arab book of the late 13th century : Al - mukhtara ` fi funun min al - suna ` ( Inventions from the Various Industrial Arts ), which was compiled by al - Muzaffar Yusuf ibn ` Umar ibn ` Ali ibn Rasul ( d. 1295 ), a king of Yemen. The recipe called for passing water repeatedly through a mixture of alkali ( Arabic : al - qily, where qily is ash from saltwort plants, which are rich in sodium ; hence alkali was impure sodium carbonate ) and quicklime ( calcium oxide, CaO ), whereby a solution of sodium hydroxide was obtained. European soap makers also followed this recipe. When in 1791 the French chemist and surgeon Nicolas Leblanc ( 1742 -- 1806 ) patented a process for mass - producing sodium carbonate, natural `` soda ash '' ( impure sodium carbonate that was obtained from the ashes of plants that are rich in sodium ) was replaced by this artificial version. 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Jump up ^ `` Olives : Safe Methods for Home Pickling ( application / pdf Object ) '' ( PDF ). ucanr.org. 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Drinking Water Treatment - pH Adjustment ''. 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2016. Jump up ^ Brian Oram, PG ( 2014 ). `` Drinking Water Issues Corrosive Water ( Lead, Copper, Aluminum, Zinc and More ) ''. Retrieved June 23, 2016. Jump up ^ Page 168 in : The Detection of poisons and strong drugs. Author : Wilhelm Autenrieth. Publisher : P. Blakiston 's son & Company, 1909. Jump up ^ `` Empa - 604 - Communication - NaOH - heat - storage ''. www.empa.ch. Jump up ^ `` aluminium_water_hydrogen. pdf ( application / pdf Object ) '' ( PDF ). www1.eere.energy.gov. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2013. Jump up ^ Pubchem. `` SODIUM HYDROXIDE NaOH - PubChem ''. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 04. ^ Jump up to : Thorpe, Thomas Edward, ed., A Dictionary of Applied Chemistry ( London, England : Longmans, Green, and Co., 1913 ), vol. 5, ( 1 ) Jump up ^ See : History of Science and Technology in Islam : Description of Soap Making Jump up ^ The English chemist and archaeologist Henry Ernest Stapleton ( 1878 -- 1962 ) presented evidence that the Persian alchemist and physician Muhammad ibn Zakariya al - Razi ( 854 -- 925 ) knew about sodium hydroxide. See : Henry Ernest Stapleton ; R.F. Azo ; M. Hid'yat Ḥusain ( 1927 ) `` Chemistry in ' Iraq and Persia in the Tenth Century A.D., '' Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 8 ( 6 ) : 317 -- 418 ; see p. 322. Jump up ^ Stapleton, H.E. and Azo, R.F. ( 1905 ) `` Alchemical equipment in the eleventh century, A.D., '' Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1 : 47 -- 71 ; see footnote 5 on p. 53. From p. 53 : `` 5. Sodium carbonate. Qily is the ashes of certain plants, e.g. Salsola and Salicornia..., which grow near the sea, or in salty places... '' Jump up ^ Thomas F. O'Brien, Tilak V. Bommaraju, Fumio Hine, Handbook of Chlor - Alkali Technology, vol. 1 ( Berlin, Germany : Springer Verlag, 2005 ), Chapter 2 : History of the Chlor - Alkali Industry, p. 34. Bibliography Euro Chlor - How is chlorine made ? Chlorine Online Greenwood, Norman N. ; Earnshaw, Alan ( 1997 ). Chemistry of the Elements ( 2nd ed. ). Butterworth - Heinemann. ISBN 0 - 08 - 037941 - 9. Heaton, A. ( 1996 ) An Introduction to Industrial Chemistry, 3rd edition, New York : Blackie. ISBN 0 - 7514 - 0272 - 9. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sodium hydroxide. Look up sodium hydroxide in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. International Chemical Safety Card 0360 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards CDC -- Sodium Hydroxide -- NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic European Union Risk Assessment Report Production by brine electrolysis Data sheets Sodium Hydroxide Safety Data Sheet ( SDS ) Sodium Hydroxide MSDS Certified Lye MSDS Hill Brothers MSDS Sodium hydroxide Safety Summary ( BASF ) Titration of acids with sodium hydroxide ; freeware for data analysis, simulation of curves and pH calculation Caustic soda production in continuous causticising plant by lime soda process Sodium compounds NaAlO NaBH NaBH ( CN ) NaBO NaBiO NaBr NaBrO NaBrO NaCH COO NaC H CO NaC H ( OH ) CO NaCN NaCl NaClO NaClO NaClO NaClO NaF Na FeO NaH NaHCO NaH PO NaHSO NaHSO NaI NaIO NaIO Na IO NaMnO NaN NaNH NaNO NaNO NaOCN NaO NaO NaOH NaPO H NaReO NaSCN NaSH NaTcO NaVO Na CO Na C O Na CrO Na Cr O Na GeO Na MnO Na MnO Na MoO Na MoS Na N O Na O Na O Na O ( UO ) Na PO F Na S Na SO Na SO Na S O Na S O Na S O Na S O Na S O Na S O Na S O Na Se Na SeO Na SeO Na SiO Na Si O Na SiO Na Te Na TeO Na TeO Na Po Na Ti O Na U O NaWO Na Zn ( OH ) Na N Na P Na PO Na VO Na Fe ( CN ) Na P O Na P O Chemical formulas Hydroxides H O He LiOH Be ( OH ) NH H O O Ne NaOH Mg ( OH ) Al ( OH ) Si Cl Ar KOH Ca ( OH ) Sc ( OH ) Ti V Cr ( OH ) Cr ( OH ) Mn ( OH ) Fe ( OH ) Fe ( OH ) Co ( OH ) Ni ( OH ) CuOH Cu ( OH ) Zn ( OH ) Ga ( OH ) Ge ( OH ) As Se Br Kr RbOH Sr ( OH ) Y ( OH ) Zr ( OH ) Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd AgOH Cd ( OH ) In ( OH ) Sn ( OH ) Sn ( OH ) Sb ( OH ) Te Xe CsOH Ba ( OH ) * Hf Ta Re Os Ir Pt Au ( OH ) Hg ( OH ) TlOH Tl ( OH ) Pb ( OH ) Pb ( OH ) Bi ( OH ) Po At Rn Fr Ra * * Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og ↓ * La ( OH ) Ce ( OH ) Pr ( OH ) Nd ( OH ) Pm ( OH ) Sm ( OH ) Eu ( OH ) Gd ( OH ) Tb ( OH ) Dy ( OH ) Ho ( OH ) Er ( OH ) Tm ( OH ) Yb ( OH ) Lu ( OH ) * * Ac Th ( OH ) Pa UO ( OH ) Np Pu Am Cm ( OH ) Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr Molecules detected in outer space Molecules Diatomic Aluminium monochloride Aluminium monofluoride Aluminium monoxide Argonium Carbon monophosphide Carbon monosulfide Carbon monoxide Carborundum Cyanogen radical Diatomic carbon Fluoromethylidynium Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen ( molecular ) Hydroxyl radical Iron ( II ) oxide Magnesium monohydride cation Methylidyne radical Nitric oxide Nitrogen ( molecular ) Nitrogen monohydride Nitrogen sulfide Oxygen ( molecular ) Phosphorus monoxide Phosphorus mononitride Potassium chloride Silicon carbide Silicon mononitride Silicon monoxide Silicon monosulfide Sodium chloride Sodium iodide Sulfur monohydride Sulfur monoxide Titanium oxide Triatomic Aluminium hydroxide Aluminium isocyanide Amino radical Carbon dioxide Carbonyl sulfide CCP radical Chloronium Diazenylium Dicarbon monoxide Disilicon carbide Ethynyl radical Formyl radical Hydrogen cyanide ( HCN ) Hydrogen isocyanide ( HNC ) Hydrogen sulfide Hydroperoxyl Iron cyanide Isoformyl Magnesium cyanide Magnesium isocyanide Methylene radical Nitrous oxide Nitroxyl Ozone Phosphaethyne Potassium cyanide Protonated molecular hydrogen Sodium cyanide Sodium hydroxide Silicon carbonitride c - Silicon dicarbide Silicon naphthalocyanine Sulfur dioxide Thioformyl Thioxoethenylidene Titanium dioxide Tricarbon Water Four atoms Acetylene Ammonia Cyanic acid Cyanoethynyl Cyclopropynylidyne Formaldehyde Fulminic acid HCCN Hydrogen peroxide Hydromagnesium isocyanide Isocyanic acid Isothiocyanic acid Ketenyl Methylene amidogen Methyl radical Propynylidyne Protonated carbon dioxide Protonated hydrogen cyanide Silicon tricarbide Thioformaldehyde Tricarbon monoxide Tricarbon sulfide Thiocyanic acid Five atoms Ammonium ion Butadiynyl Carbodiimide Cyanamide Cyanoacetylene Cyanoformaldehyde Cyanomethyl Cyclopropenylidene Formic acid Isocyanoacetylene Ketene Methane Methoxy radical Methylenimine Propadienylidene Protonated formaldehyde Protonated formaldehyde Silane Silicon - carbide cluster Six atoms Acetonitrile Cyanobutadiynyl radical E-Cyanomethanimine Cyclopropenone Diacetylene Ethylene Formamide HC N Ketenimine Methanethiol Methanol Methyl isocyanide Pentynylidyne Propynal Protonated cyanoacetylene Seven atoms Acetaldehyde Acrylonitrile Vinyl cyanide Cyanodiacetylene Ethylene oxide Hexatriynyl radical Methylacetylene Methylamine Methyl isocyanate Vinyl alcohol Eight atoms Acetic acid Aminoacetonitrile Cyanoallene Ethanimine Glycolaldehyde Heptatrienyl radical Hexapentaenylidene Methylcyanoacetylene Methyl formate Propenal Nine atoms Acetamide Cyanohexatriyne Cyanotriacetylene Dimethyl ether Ethanol Methyldiacetylene Octatetraynyl radical Propene Propionitrile Ten atoms or more Acetone Benzene Buckminsterfullerene ( C fullerene, buckyball ) C fullerene Cyanodecapentayne Cyanopentaacetylene Cyanotetra - acetylene Ethylene glycol Ethyl formate Methyl acetate Methyl - cyano - diacetylene Methyltriacetylene Propanal n - Propyl cyanide Pyrimidine Deuterated molecules Ammonia Ammonium ion Formaldehyde Formyl radical Heavy water Hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen deuteride Hydrogen isocyanide Methylacetylene Trihydrogen cation Unconfirmed Anthracene Dihydroxyacetone Ethyl methyl ether Glycine Graphene H NCO Linear C Naphthalene cation Phosphine Pyrene Silylidine Related Abiogenesis Astrobiology Astrochemistry Atomic and molecular astrophysics Chemical formula Circumstellar envelope Cosmic dust Cosmic ray Cosmochemistry Diffuse interstellar band Earliest known life forms Extraterrestrial life Extraterrestrial liquid water Forbidden mechanism Helium hydride ion Homochirality Intergalactic dust Interplanetary medium Interstellar medium Photodissociation region Iron -- sulfur world theory Kerogen Molecules in stars Nexus for Exoplanet System Science Organic compound Outer space PAH world hypothesis Panspermia Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ( PAH ) RNA world hypothesis Spectroscopy Tholin Book : Chemistry Category : Astrochemistry Category : Molecules Portal : Astrobiology Portal : Astronomy Portal : Chemistry Articles related to electrolysis / Standard electrode potential Electrolytic processes Betts electrolytic process Castner process Castner -- Kellner process Chloralkali process Downs cell Electrolysis of water Electrowinning Hall -- Héroult process Hofmann voltameter Kolbe electrolysis Materials produced by electrolysis Aluminium ( extraction ) Calcium metal Chlorine Copper Electrolysed water Fluorine Hydrogen Lithium metal Magnesium metal Potassium metal Sodium metal Sodium hydroxide Zinc See also Electrochemistry Gas cracker Standard electrode potential ( data page ) Electrology GND : 4171257 - 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Question: which metal reacts with alkali to produce hydrogen
Answer: Sodium hydroxide