AllanD
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What is "Soda Snow"?
Found a 5gallon tub of the stuff.
Fine white needle like crystals.
Makes the hands feel slightly soapy when in water, but no detectable odor.
Only slightly alkaline.
It's obviously an archaic name, but for what?
AD
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YT2095
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possibly Sodium Carbonate aka Washing Soda.
[Edited on 17-7-2006 by YT2095]
\"In a world full of wonders mankind has managed to invent boredom\" - Death
Twinkies don\'t have a shelf life. They have a half-life! -Caine (a friend of mine)
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woelen
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I have doubts on that. This is because AllanD mentions "needle like crystals". Crystallized sodium carbonate (deca hydrate) has no needle like
crystals. If the needle like crystals were not mentioned, then I also would opt for sodium carbonate.
But to be sure, why not give it a test? Add some of the white stuff to dilute hydrochloric acid, or even to some undiluted vinegar. If it bubbles
vigorously, then it indeed will be a carbonate.
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YT2095
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bathtubbrewers/message/10208
this hard to find post made me consider it`s likelyhood of being the Carbonate also.
and yes, a Flame test (look for yellow color) and then the Vinegar test would be the 1`st things I`de try if it were mine.
unless you found it in a Bakery, then it`s unlikely to be Bicarbonate, esp as you mention the Soapy feel.
Sodium carbonate decahydrate is also monoclinic in Crystal form.
Edit: I just found this about the Crystal form; http://www.mindat.org/min-2858.html
[Edited on 17-7-2006 by YT2095]
\"In a world full of wonders mankind has managed to invent boredom\" - Death
Twinkies don\'t have a shelf life. They have a half-life! -Caine (a friend of mine)
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AllanD
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| Quote: | Originally posted by YT2095
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bathtubbrewers/message/10208
this hard to find post made me consider it`s likelyhood of being the Carbonate also.
and yes, a Flame test (look for yellow color) and then the Vinegar test would be the 1`st things I`de try if it were mine.
unless you found it in a Bakery, then it`s unlikely to be Bicarbonate, esp as you mention the Soapy feel.
Sodium carbonate decahydrate is also monoclinic in Crystal form.
Edit: I just found this about the Crystal form; http://www.mindat.org/min-2858.html
[Edited on 17-7-2006 by YT2095] |
Damn, very resourceful that you found that post, how long did it take you to find that?
And I'm more than a little curious why you went looking for it?
I have both suspicion and doubts that it is sodium carbonate
and would love to find some other reference to the archaic name.
And yes, it reacts with dilute Acetic acid (8% Distilled Vinegar)
with the release of carbon dioxide.
I describe them as needle like crystals because that's exactly what they are, and I can understand the name because the crystals resemble snow that
has fallen in very low temperatures when the snow takes the form of little needle-like stick crystals because it's too cold to form the classic
hexagonal matrix of crystals.
OR if you prefer the material looks like very fine fiberglass that someone has ground into very short sticks.
I haven't done a flame test on it but would be greatly suprised to find it is anything other than a sodium salt,
I do somewhat trust the labeling...
but I say again, I'd like to see SOME reference to the archaic name.
And my post on "bathtubbrewers" aside I only SUSPECT it's Sodium Carbonate, I don't KNOW it is and my discovery that it works for removing labels from
used beer bottles was entirely accidental...
The knowledge from finding SOME reference would primarily be used in allowing me to aquire more of the substance, as it really does work....
AllanD
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unionised
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My money is on sodium sesquicarbonate, it seems to have the right crystal form.
http://msds.fmc.com/msds/100000010039-MSDS_US-E.pdf
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AllanD
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I think we've found a winner....
Now to find someone LOCAL who sells it in 5gallon pails
or even someone who doesn't give me a blank look when I ask....
AllanD
[Edited on 17-7-2006 by AllanD]
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