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By Jo Alelsto

Sodium hydroxide is one of the most dangerous chemicals. It is one of the strongest alkaline, known as caustic soda or lye. It is white, odorless and non-volatile in aqueous solutions. It is not readily flammable. However, it is a highly reactive substance. It forms an exothermic solution with water, evolving heat which may ignite combustible materials nearby. Its reaction with other metals yields hydrogen gas which ignites in the presence of oxygen. Moreover, this substance is extremely corrosive.

This compound is found in many manufacturing plants. It is used in the following industrial purposes: manufacture of soaps, detergents and cleaning agents; processing of cotton and production of rayon and cellophane; processing of petroleum and natural gas; manufacture of pulp and paper; and various other chemical processing like pH control and acid neutralization. This chemical is also found in textile processing, vegetable oil refining, water treatment, manufacture of glass, preparation of adhesives, and stabilization of sodium hypochlorite. It is used in the processing of aluminum and degreasing of metals.

This compound is either used in industries as a pure solid substance or in solutions with water at varying concentrations. It may be found with impurities like sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, and metals like iron and nickel.

This chemical is known in chemistry to be one of the most dangerous substances that must be handled with extreme caution.

This alkaline substance does not form vapors but may form aerosol dust which can be inhaled. Reports from cases of inhalation of caustic soda suggest that this compound has the ability to irritate the respiratory tract lining. A lung injury known as pulmonary edema or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs may happen. Workers exposed to a hot mist of this compound in unventilated area will experience tightness of chest, difficulty in breathing, and cough. This is due to the body’s defense mechanism against the irritant. There was a reported case of a man who sustained severe pulmonary injury due to inhalation of aerosol containing the substance. This happened when water was poured onto sodium hydroxide pellets.

This compound is very corrosive that it should not come in contact with any part of the body. During skin exposure, the substance causes severe burning, ulceration and scarring. One of the dangers of skin exposure is that the chemical tends to destroy deeper layers of the skin until it is washed off. The extent of injury depends on the length and amount of exposure.

Another thing which must be guarded is the possibility of eye contact because the chemical can penetrate deep into the eyes. One of the most obvious symptoms of eye injury due to exposure is damage on the cornea accompanied by clouding and loss of normal vision. This could progress to eye disorders like glaucoma and cataract. The ulceration and clouding in the eye may continue resulting to permanent blindness.

Accidental ingestion of the alkaline may result to even more serious conditions. The substance is likely to corrode anything in its path. Thus, severe burns in the mouth, throat, esophageal lining, and gastric lining may happen. This could be accompanied by vomiting and loose bowel movement. In severe cases hemorrhage and perforation may occur, which leads to death.

These, however, are results of initial and acute exposures. Chronic exposure is one thing that concerns most workers in industrial plants where sodium hydroxide is introduced and utilized. Continual skin contact causes the skin to become dry, cracked, and inflamed. Chronic respiratory exposure may cause serious obstruction in the airway.

A research was conducted to determine whether the inorganic base is responsible for cancer. Individuals who were frequently exposed to it were called in for the study. There is a speculation that the alkaline causes cancer of the esophagus to individuals who have accidentally swallowed it. However, the cancer does not develop until more than ten years from exposure. The same cancer tissue growth has been noticed in areas of the skin that suffered previous burns. But experts believe that the cancerous growths have been due to the damage to the tissue and formation of scar and not directly caused by chemical exposure.

Jo is an author and publisher for ‘ReAgent Chemical Services Ltd’ (http://www.reagent.co.uk), an established UK stationed chemical manufacturer that makes, carries and distributes a wide selection of high quality chemical. If your corporation is seeking high quality chemical product for example Sodium Hydroxide or has other industrial chemical requirements for applications like chemical mixture, analytical purposes and cleaning then take a look at ReAgent Chemical Services Ltd.

Tags: science, chemical

By Jean Helmet

Sodium would top the list of minerals that have gotten a bad rap. Various reports and articles criticize this mineral to an extent that people desperately try to take it off their diet completely. This could be dangerous. The body needs a significant amount of sodium to live, because sodium balances the water content inside and outside our cells.

Sodium deficiency can result in symptoms including heart palpitations, dehydration, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, and low libido. Bottom line, sodium is necessary for your body to stay healthy. Then, why do the reports speak about the dangers of this salt?

Sodium has been refined with chemicals and so, has lost some of its natural healing properties, like many other minerals. The process of washing and chemically treating natural salt crystal results in sodium chloride. The natural salt crystal contains nearly 100 elements. The refinement results in just two elements, namely, sodium and chloride. Sodium chloride is what we commonly know as ‘table salt’. It is the combination of these two elements that is dangerous.

Sodium when combined with potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other elements is beneficial to the human body. In other words, the closer sodium is, to its original form the better are the benefits. Additionally, some people are sensitive to high concentrations of sodium.

So, what is the best way of getting sufficient sodium? Table salt (sodium chloride) is a good option. But you should get to know the correct amounts of salt that can be used in the foods and drinks you consume. Many luncheon meats, snack foods, and carbonated beverages have elevated sodium content. The body normally requires about 500 milligrams of sodium. Just by eating a variety of wholesome foods including vegetables you can easily reach this limit.

Many people consume more sodium than their body can handle. The human body can afford to handle up to 3000 milligrams of sodium. Excess salt is generally excreted through the urine. If the body receives too much sodium, more than it can handle, it can make you ill.

The best salt that contains all the nutrients your body needs in addition to sodium is the sea salt. It is ideal if you can use sea salt.

Jean Helmet is one of the editors at a collection of nutritional web sites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter.

We cover everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your health. Make sure you check out our free nutrition e-book, for more information on the supplements we use with excellent health results.

Tags: chemical, chemistry