Solvay Process

A set of chemical reactions that create sodium carbonate, ammonium chloride, and/or sodium hydrogen carbonate (a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate). Sodium carbonate finds use in Ajax and non-chlorine bleach, while sodium hydrogen carbonate is the major constituent of baking soda

Step 1: Ammonia reacts with carbon dioxide and water to create ammonium carbonate

2NH₃ + H₂O + CO₂ ---> (NH₄)₂CO₃

Step 2: More carbon dioxide and water is added to the ammonium carbonate, creating ammonium hydrogen carbonate (a.k.a. ammonium bicarbonate)

(NH₄)₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂ ---> 2NH₄HCO₃

Step 3: Sodium chloride reacts with the ammonium hydrogen carbonate to form sodium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium chloride.

NaCl + 2NH₄HCO₃ -(equilibrium)--> NaHCO₃ + NH₄Cl

If sodium carbonate is desired instead of sodium hydrogen carbonate, heating the sodium hydrogen carbonate will produce it.

2NaHCO₃ --(heat)--> Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂