Alkali’s are made from a series of chemical experiments. There are a number of different processes, including the Leblanc process, which I will (try to) explain (I’m no chemistry specialist).
First, you mix sodium chloride (NaCl) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4):
2 NaCl + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2 HCl
Then you take the sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) from that and fire it up with some coal (C) and limestone (CaCO3) in a 2-step reaction:
Na2SO4 + 2 C → Na2S + 2 CO2
Na2S + CaCO3 → Na2CO3 + CaS
Then the sodium carbonate (CaCO3; alkali) can be extracted with water.
Comments
James commented on :
Is this just your homework assignment for the week?! 😛
If so, well done – very resourceful of you. 🙂