Sodium percarbonate and its applications

It is commonly referred to as ecological bleach or active oxygen. This water-soluble powder is often used both in households and in production facilities. Sodium percarbonate, because that's what we're talking about, is a valued oxidant with a wide spectrum of activity. What are the properties and use of sodium percarbonate and how to use it safely? Here is a collection of the most important information.

What is sodium percarbonate?

Sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3*1.5H2O2), also known as sodium carbonate with hydrogen peroxide, is a substance:

• crystalline,
• white or transparent,
• with a powdered consistency,
• perfectly soluble in water,
• strongly hygroscopic,
• intensely oxidizing (may contribute to an increase in fire or ignition of flammable substances).

How is sodium percarbonate formed? It is obtained as a result of the addition reaction of hydrogen peroxide to sodium carbonate. Sounds complicated? Meanwhile, the whole process is relatively simple. Addition (from Latin additio: addition) means a chemical reaction in which molecules or atoms join together into a new molecule without any side effects.

It is worth noting that modern chemists are still conducting research on new methods of obtaining sodium percarbonate. They also improve the existing methods to obtain the powder quickly and as cheaply as possible, while maintaining the highest quality of the product.

Is sodium percarbonate soda ash?

The average consumer does not know the difference between sodium percarbonate and soda ash. Do both terms mean the same thing? The answer is no. Soda ash is otherwise sodium carbonate, a strongly alkaline substance. Also, do not confuse both substances with baking soda, i.e. sodium bicarbonate, commonly used in almost every household.

Sodium percarbonate: application

The use of sodium percarbonate is a very broad topic. People have appreciated this substance for decades. Why? Because sodium percarbonate has excellent cleaning, bleaching and disinfecting properties. It can be used for cleaning and scrubbing various surfaces: floors, ceramic walls, countertops, bathroom and kitchen fittings. Manufacturers of household chemicals use this substance as an ingredient:

• dishwasher tablets,
• ecological bleaches and stain removers, removing stubborn stains,
• preparations for cleaning toilets and sinks,
• agents facilitating the removal of mold from walls and floors,
• descaling agents.

Using a sodium percarbonate solution at home, you can remove mold from the walls and eliminate limescale deposits in the kettle. A few tablespoons of sodium percarbonate and a few liters of warm water are also enough to prepare an efficient and effective preparation for removing stains from carpets, furniture upholstery and other surfaces (walls, floor coverings, etc.). Such a solution is also used to bleach curtains and various home textiles.

What precautions should be taken with sodium percarbonate?

It is worth remembering that sodium percarbonate is a strong oxidant. This substance itself is not harmful to the environment, but if used incorrectly, it can cause various unpleasant ailments and poisoning. Special precautions should therefore be taken when preparing homemade percarbonate solutions. The most important thing is to ensure proper eye, respiratory and skin protection. Here is a short list of a few safety rules that must not be forgotten when reaching for sodium percarbonate:

1. Homemade products based on sodium percarbonate can only be prepared with protective gloves.
2. Protect the eye mucosa and wear safety glasses when dispensing and mixing the powder with water.
3. Do not consume the powder or solution (even a small amount of sodium percarbonate can cause severe food poisoning).
4. When pouring the powder into hot water, inhalation of the resulting vapors is unacceptable (airborne particles cause serious irritation of the nasal mucosa and the entire respiratory system).
5. Flammable substances must never be placed in the vicinity of sodium percarbonate (the powder must also not be kept close to hot surfaces: heating plates, ovens, etc.).

And the last, most important rule: containers with a solution should always be in places inaccessible to children. Do not place sachets or bottles with the ready-made preparation in a low position

Sodium percarbonate solution: homemade recipes

A kilogram of sodium percarbonate lasts for months, making it a very economical yet easy-to-use cleaning agent. How to easily prepare a homemade cleaning or washing powder? There are several different recipes, depending on what you want to clean or wash. If we want to quickly refresh the fabrics in the washing machine, pour or pour about 2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate and set the program to a low temperature, maximum 30-40 degrees Celsius.

To bleach fabrics, all you need to do is:

• pour 1-2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate into 3-4 liters of warm water (remember to use protective gloves!),
• mix the ingredients and soak clothes or textiles in the ready solution for a few quarters of an hour,
• after removing the fabrics from the solution, they should be washed in an automatic washing machine (at this stage, we can add another washing agent and fragrance).

Pure sodium percarbonate in the form of powder can also be simply poured down the drain in the sink or toilet without the need to make mixtures in a water solution. Sodium percarbonate then dissolves in water and removes scale and microbes.