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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which common sodium compounds are produced from sodium chloride?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
A labeled diagram shows the periodic table entry for sodium, highlighting its symbol Na, atomic number 11, atomic weight, electron configuration, physical state as a solid, body-centered cubic crystal structure, and strongly basic oxide properties.
sodium

Sodium chloride (common salt) serves as the primary raw material for the production of many other important sodium compounds. These are typically prepared through direct or indirect chemical processes:1

  • Sodium hydroxide: Produced alongside chlorine through the electrolytic decomposition of sodium chloride in brine.12
  • Sodium carbonate: Manufactured on a large scale using the Solvay process, which utilizes sodium chloride, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.13
  • Sodium bicarbonate: Can be produced by treating sodium carbonate with carbon dioxide. It is also formed as an intermediate in the Solvay process.13
  • Sodium hypochlorite: Created through the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride.1
  • Sodium sulfate: Can be produced synthetically by treating sodium chloride with sulfuric acid.1

Additionally, the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (using the Downs cell process) is used to produce sodium metal and chlorine.4