Sciencemadness Discussion Board

sepparation of sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate

vampirexevipex - 20-4-2012 at 15:40

Hello i recently made sodium hydroxide by mixing calcium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, now i need to separate it, but since both compounds are water soluble, i need help here. So any effective way of separation that doesnt involve crystallization?

Hexavalent - 20-4-2012 at 15:45

Your question is not very clear.

I assume you went;

Ca(OH)2 + Na2CO3 --> 2NaOH + CaCO3

Under which circumstances, assuming you used correct stoichiometry and using proper mole/mass equivalents, all that you will be left with is the sodium hydroxide, which is very soluble, and calcium carbonate, which is virtually insoluble.

So, you could just add water - the sodium hydroxide will dissolve and leave the CaCO3 at the bottom as a precipitate, which can either have the liquid decanted off it or have the entire thing filtered.

[Edited on 20-4-2012 by Hexavalent]