Sodium Hydroxide question

Reefen · Mar 14, 2023

So I bought some 100% lye for sodium hydroxide, I mixed 8gms to half cup water to add to my 1/2 gallon of soda ash to boost ph, I think I see precipitation. Did i do something wrong, thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2023

Reefen said:
So I bought some 100% lye for sodium hydroxide, I mixed 8gms to half cup water to add to my 1/2 gallon of soda ash to boost ph, I think I see precipitation. Did i do something wrong, thanks

Was the lye totally clear when dosed? Maybe it just has some impurities in it, such as calcium.

A lot or just a little ppt?

Reefen · Mar 14, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Was the lye totally clear when dosed? Maybe it just has some impurities in it, such as calcium.

A lot or just a little ppt?

its just when i look at the solution with a flash light, i see a bunch of very fine particles floating, i think the lye was cloudy, didnt know it should be clear

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2023

Reefen said:
its just when i look at the solution with a flash light, i see a bunch of very fine particles floating, i think the lye was cloudy, didnt know it should be clear

Was it food grade?

Reefen · Mar 14, 2023

no, drain cleaner

Reefen · Mar 14, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Was it food grade?

drain cleaner

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2023

It may have impurities that are of no concern (such as calcium) or it may have more problematic impurities such as metals.

Reefen · Mar 14, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It may have impurities that are of no concern (such as calcium) or it may have more problematic impurities such as metals.

shoot! okay, thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2023

Food grade is pretty cheap from Amazon.

Reefen · Mar 14, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Food grade is pretty cheap from Amazon.

So just want to double check, the fact that I mixed the sodium hydroxide into the soda ash is ok

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 14, 2023

Reefen said:
So just want to double check, the fact that I mixed the sodium hydroxide into the soda ash is ok

Yes. Mixing each to the standard concentration of my DIY recipes and then combining the two mixtures is OK.

You cannot add dry sodium hydroxide into the fully potent soda ash recipe, however. The increased sodium concentration reduces the sodium carbonate solubility.