Washing Soda Vs. Baking Soda

There is a lot of confusion among people between washing soda vs baking soda. Though both are widely popular in the chemical, industrial and domestic sectors, there are certain points that differentiate these two salts. Both these salts form an integral part of today's chemical laboratories and industrial units.

What is Washing Soda?
It is a chemical compound largely popular in the chemical industries, besides its various domestic uses. Chemically speaking, it is a chemical salt of carbonic acid. The chemical name of washing is sodium carbonate, it is also known as soda ash or simply soda crystals and its chemical formula is Na₂CO₃. Naturally, it occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate that loses its water of crystallization to form a white powder. It is mainly found in arid regions, where the seasonal lakes evaporate, leaving behind rich reserves of this salt. It is also mined in various parts of the United States. In the industrial processes, it is produced by various methods like Solvay process and Hou's process.

What is Baking Soda?
It is mostly confused with washing soda, however, they have both structural and chemical differences. It is a bicarbonate of sodium or simply stated it is sodium hydrogen carbonate. It is white in color and though it is crystalline, it is found in powdery form. Its formula is NaHCO₃. Its natural occurring form is known as nahcolite. Washing soda is abundantly found in many parts of United States. In the chemical industries, it is prepared by the Solvay process that makes the uses of calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, ammonia and carbon dioxide in water.

Uses
When discussing the differences between washing soda and baking soda, it is essential to consider the different uses of these two salts. Well, the difference between these two salts finds applications in the laundry. It is a fact that many people complain that using washing soda in laundering clothes is not very effective. Primarily, it is a stronger base than baking soda and it has been found that in several cases it is even caustic. That's why baker's don't prefer it for baking, instead their normal choice is baking soda. Their pH level is 11 which is much more inclined towards the alkaline side of pH scale. It is to be noted that a pH level of 7 is considered neutral and any pH level above 7 is regarded as basic. A pH level below 7 highlights the acidic nature of the substance.

Though it does not produce fumes in direct air, still, it is recommended to wear gloves and masks while using it as a cleaning agent. It is preferred for really tough stains like grease or petrol stains on garage floors etc. Baking soda on the other hand, has a pH level of 8.1, that makes it only slightly basic. Many people prefer it for their laundry because it is milder and has less chances of harming the clothes.

However, while baking soda easily dissolves in water, sometimes even before its molecules are able to remove the stains, the same is not at all true for washing soda. Its high alkalinity makes it an ideal stain remover for tough fabrics and clothes. Any soft fabric or clothes coming in direct contact with it may cause some harm to the clothes, like discoloration, etc.

Many people also compare washing soda vs borax, however, there is nothing much like comparing in both these salts. Both these salts coupled together act as a good laundry cleanser, however, one must be cautious in using them together as they can give rise to sudden fumes. Reading the instructions before usage is important.