The chemical compound Na2CO3 is also known by the names soda ash and sodium carbonate. There is a minor distinction in their purity, though.
Typically, soda ash refers to sodium carbonate that has been commercially graded and may contain certain impurities. It is made from the ashes of plants, like those in the genus Salsola, that contain sodium carbonate. Additionally, it can be artificially created via the solvay process, which primarily uses ammonia, salt, and limestone.
Sodium carbonate, on the other hand, is the chemical in a pure form that is usually utilized in industry. Soda ash is processed and purified chemically to create it.
Both soda ash and sodium carbonate are widely utilized in many different industries, such as the paper, detergent, and glass industries. They are interchangeable in the majority of applications and share comparable chemical characteristics. However, in applications where product quality is a major concern, sodium carbonate might be favored due to its higher purity.
