The key difference between sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate is that sodium carbonate is a single molecule whereas sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide.
Sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate are important inorganic compounds. Sodium percarbonate is a derivative of sodium carbonate as it forms by the direct addition of two compounds: sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Sodium Carbonate
3. What is Sodium Percarbonate
4. Side by Side Comparison – Sodium Carbonate vs Sodium Percarbonate in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Sodium Carbonate?
Sodium carbonate is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula Na2CO3. The common name for this compound is washing soda. Sometimes we also call it as soda ash. It has various hydrates as well. Sodium carbonate and its hydrates appear as white coloured solids. Moreover, all of them are water-soluble. Besides, this compound has a strong alkaline taste. When dissolved in water, it gives a moderately alkaline solution. Furthermore, it is highly hygroscopic.
Figure 01: Appearance of Sodium Carbonate
The molar mass of sodium carbonate is 105.9 g/mol. The melting pint of the anhydrous form is 851 °C. We can produce sodium carbonate via mining mineral deposits (evaporites) or via the Solvay process. When considering the uses of this compound, the major applications are in the manufacture of glass, paper, rayon, soaps, detergents, etc. Moreover, it is useful for water softening by removing magnesium and calcium ions. It is also a major food additive.
What is Sodium Percarbonate?
Sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. The chemical formula of this compound is Na2H3CO6. Since it is an adduct of two molecules, we can write the formula as 2Na2CO3.3H2O2. Further, this is a colourless solid material that is crystalline and hygroscopic. The molar mass is 156.9 g/mol.
Figure 02: Structure of Sodium Percarbonate
We can make this compound in a laboratory via the crystallization of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide under controlled pH and reactant concentrations. The applications of sodium percarbonate include use as an oxidizing agent, as an ingredient in detergents, and in organic synthesis processes as a source of anhydrous hydrogen peroxide.
What is the Difference Between Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Percarbonate?
Sodium carbonate is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula Na2CO3 while sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. The key difference between sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate is that sodium carbonate is a single molecule whereas sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, sodium carbonate is a white solid, whereas sodium percarbonate is a colourless crystalline solid.
Moreover, another difference between sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate is their usage. Sodium carbonate is useful in the manufacture of glass, paper, rayon, soaps, detergents, etc. and is also useful for water softening by removing magnesium and calcium ions, and as a major food additive. In contrast, sodium percarbonate is used as an oxidizing agent, as an ingredient in detergents, in organic synthesis processes as a source of anhydrous hydrogen peroxide, etc.
Summary – Sodium Carbonate vs Sodium Percarbonate
Sodium percarbonate is a derivative of sodium carbonate. The key difference between sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate is that sodium carbonate is a single molecule whereas sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide.
Reference:
1. Brandt, Malcolm J., et al. “Chemical Storage, Dosing and Control.” Tworts Water Supply, 2017, pp. 513–552., doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-100025-0.00012-0.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Uhličitan sodný” By Ondřej Mangl – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sodium-percarbonate-xtal-100K-2003-CM-3D-balls” By Ben Mills – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia