What is sodium hydroxide?
Sodium hydroxide, also called caustic soda or lye, is a strongly corrosive manufactured chemical substance. Sodium hydroxide is especially useful for its ability to chemically alter fats in a process called saponification. It is used in industry as a chemical reagent, to make soap, and in cooking to cure some foods. Sodium hydroxide is usually sold in pure form as white pellets, or as a water solution.
Who is exposed to sodium hydroxide?
Any person who uses products containing sodium hydroxide can be exposed. Sodium hydroxide may be used in industry and research. Sodium hydroxide is found in some household cleaners, such as drain cleaners, and oven cleaners. It is also used in preparation of homemade soaps, and to clean wood (such as decks) before painting.
How can sodium hydroxide affect my health?
Sodium hydroxide can cause serious burns. If it gets in the eyes it can cause blindness. While sodium hydroxide does not vaporize, if sodium hydroxide dust or powder is inhaled it can cause severe lung damage.
How likely is sodium hydroxide to cause cancer?
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified sodium hydroxide for carcinogenicity in humans.
How can sodium hydroxide affect children?
There are no studies on the health effects of children exposed to sodium hydroxide. The effects seen in children accidently exposed to sodium hydroxide are similar to the effects observed in adults.
Is there a medical test to show whether I have been exposed to sodium hydroxide?
There is no medical test for sodium hydroxide exposure.
How can I reduce the risk of exposure to sodium hydroxide?
Store products containing sodium hydroxide out of reach of children. Always follow the product directions when working with solutions of sodium hydroxide. Wear latex or nitrile gloves, and check them for holes. Wear long sleeves and pants to protect your skin, and remove clothes carefully if they get wet to avoid spreading the sodium hydroxide on your skin. If you get sodium hydroxide on your skin or in your eyes, wash well with water and seek medical help if irritation persists. If sodium hydroxide is swallowed, get emergency medical aid and do not induce vomiting.
Where can I get more information about sodium hydroxide?
November 2018
FAQs
How can sodium hydroxide affect my health? Sodium hydroxide can cause serious burns. If it gets in the eyes it can cause blindness. While sodium hydroxide does not vaporize, if sodium hydroxide dust or powder is inhaled it can cause severe lung damage.
How common is sodium hydroxide? ›
It is a common ingrediet in cleaners and soaps. At room temperature, sodium hydroxide is a white, odorless solid. Liquid sodium hydroxide is colorless and has no odor. It can react violently with strong acids and with water.
What is the common source of sodium hydroxide? ›
Sodium hydroxide is derived from salt water (brine). It is most commonly manufactured by the electrolysis of brine, a salt (NaCl) solution. During this process the water (H20) is reduced to hydrogen gas (H) and hydroxide ion (OH). The hydroxide ion bonds with the sodium to form sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
What is the medical use of sodium hydroxide? ›
Sodium hydroxide is used to help manufacture a variety of medicines and pharmaceutical products, from common pain relievers like aspirin, to anticoagulants that can help to prevent blood clots, to cholesterol-reducing medications.
What is sodium hydroxide mainly used for? ›
Manufacturers may use sodium hydroxide to produce soaps, rayon, paper, products that explode, dyes, and petroleum products. Other tasks that may use sodium hydroxide include processing cotton fabric, metal cleaning and processing, oxide coating, electroplating, and electrolytic extraction.
Where is sodium hydroxide most commonly found? ›
Sodium hydroxide is found in some household cleaners, such as drain cleaners, and oven cleaners. It is also used in preparation of homemade soaps, and to clean wood (such as decks) before painting. How can sodium hydroxide affect my health? Sodium hydroxide can cause serious burns.
Is sodium hydroxide easy to obtain? ›
It's also a caustic chemical, so it's not as easy to find in stores as it used to be.
Where is sodium hydroxide obtained? ›
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.
What country produces the most sodium hydroxide? ›
Production volume of caustic soda China 2011-2022
In 2022, China produced over 39.8 million metric tons of sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is an inorganic alkali and important for manufacturing of chemicals, water treatment, and metal processing.
Where can I find sodium hydroxide in nature? ›
Sodium hydroxide may be used to counteract acidity in swimming pool water, or in drinking water. IS SODIUM HYDROXIDE NATURALLY PRESENT IN DRINKING WATER? Yes, because sodium and hydroxide ions are common natural mineral substances, they are present in many natural soils, in groundwater, in plants and in animal tissues.
Sodium hydroxide is strongly irritating and corrosive. It can cause severe burns and permanent damage to any tissue that it comes in contact with. Sodium hydroxide can cause hydrolysis of proteins, and hence can cause burns in the eyes which may lead to permanent eye damage.
What foods contain sodium hydroxide? ›
| Number | Food Category |
|---|
| 10.2.3 | Dried and/or heat coagulated egg products |
| 10.3 | Preserved eggs, including alkaline, salted, and canned eggs |
| 10.4 | Egg-based desserts (e.g. custard) |
| 11.6 | Table-top sweeteners, including those containing high-intensity sweeteners |
57 more rowsHow likely is sodium hydroxide to cause cancer? The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified sodium hydroxide for carcinogenicity in humans. How can sodium hydroxide affect children?
Why is sodium hydroxide not used? ›
NaOH is not suitable for use as a primary standard because they readily absorb moisture, H2O, from the atmosphere. They readily absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Why is sodium hydroxide used in skin care? ›
Well, sodium hydroxide shows up in so many products, because it has a specific job: to help balance and maintain the pH of skin care products. It can do this because sodium hydroxide is highly alkaline. In fact, it clocks in at 14 on the pH scale, which ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (alkaline, or very basic).
What is the purpose of adding sodium hydroxide? ›
Adding sodium hydroxide is commonly used to increase the pH of a given solution, given that NaOH is a strong base. Additionally, however, the hydroxide anion is capable of serving as a fairly strong nucleophile, meaning that it can be used in reactive addition capacities as well.
What is the common of sodium hydroxide? ›
Sodium hydroxide is very corrosive. It is generally used as a solid or a 50% solution. Other common names include caustic soda and lye. Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture soaps, rayon, paper, explosives, dyestuffs, and petroleum products.
Is sodium hydroxide a common acid? ›
Hence, sodium hydroxide is not an acid but a base.
What to do if NaOH gets on you? ›
If you touch sodium hydroxide, remove clothes and shoes. Wash with water for at least 15 minutes. Get medical help right away. Wash clothing before wearing.
