Lye - Revision history

Vstartesla: /* Production from Alkali Carbonates */

2025-05-13T21:45:37Z

Production from Alkali Carbonates

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:45, 13 May 2025
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	: Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>		: Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>


			Some lye can be extracted from potash by leaching, without the use of quicklime. This solution is very impure but sufficient for making low-quality soap.

	=== Production from Alkali Chlorides ===		=== Production from Alkali Chlorides ===

Figgity: /* Production */ added blurbs on how potassium hydroxide can be used to make saltpeter

2025-05-09T01:17:36Z

Production: added blurbs on how potassium hydroxide can be used to make saltpeter

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:17, 9 May 2025
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	Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide ([[Soda Ash\|soda]] lye) or potassium hydroxide ([[potash]] lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.		Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide ([[Soda Ash\|soda]] lye) or potassium hydroxide ([[potash]] lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment. Potassium hydroxide can be used to produce [[saltpeter]].

	== Prerequisites ==		== Prerequisites ==
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	== Uses ==		== Uses ==
	Lye is a powerful base, particularly useful in the production of [[soap]]. Soda lye in particular may also be used in the production of [[paper]] from wood, via soda pulping.		Lye is a powerful base, particularly useful in the production of [[soap]]. Soda lye in particular may also be used in the production of [[paper]] from wood, via soda pulping.


			Potash lye can be used to neutralize nitric acid and create [[saltpeter]].

	== Dependencies ==		== Dependencies ==

Kovoc: Added prerequisites, to be more in line with style

2025-05-08T20:10:48Z

Added prerequisites, to be more in line with style

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:10, 8 May 2025
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	Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide ([[Soda Ash\|soda]] lye) or potassium hydroxide ([[potash]] lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.		Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide ([[Soda Ash\|soda]] lye) or potassium hydroxide ([[potash]] lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.

			== Prerequisites ==
			''From alkali carbonates''

			* [[Potash]] or [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]]
			* [[Quicklime]]
			* [[Fire]] (as heat source)
			* [[Pottery]]

			''From alkali chlorides (e.g., salt)''

			* [[Salt]]
			* [[Electricity]]
			* [[Iron]]
			* [[Carbon]] electrodes
			* [[Mercury]]

	== Production ==		== Production ==

Figgity: added missing links

2025-05-08T18:18:23Z

added missing links

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:18, 8 May 2025
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	Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.		Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide ([[Soda Ash\|soda]] lye) or potassium hydroxide ([[potash]] lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.
	== Production ==		== Production ==

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	Potash lye is generally easier to produce using primitive methods than soda lye, as [[potash]] (K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>) is much easier to procure than [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]] (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>), the latter of which requires the use of the ash from certain coastal plants, whereas former merely needs wood ash.		Potash lye is generally easier to produce using primitive methods than soda lye, as [[potash]] (K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>) is much easier to procure than [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]] (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>), the latter of which requires the use of the ash from certain coastal plants, whereas former merely needs wood ash.

	The general procedure is as follows, first prepare a solution of slaked lime by adding quicklime to water, 2 parts by weight of quicklime for potash, 1 part by weight for soda ash. Do this slowly as the reaction is very exothermic. Next, simply add your carbonate of choice into the solution, either 5 parts by weight of potash or 2 parts by weight of soda lime. Then the solution can be carefully boiled down in a non-metallic container (a solution of hot lye will easily eat through most metals, and will easily eat through flesh), leaving relatively pure lye. This can be recrystallized if higher purity is needed.		The general procedure is as follows, first prepare a solution of slaked lime by adding [[quicklime]] to water, 2 parts by weight of quicklime for potash, 1 part by weight for soda ash. Do this slowly as the reaction is very exothermic. Next, simply add your carbonate of choice into the solution, either 5 parts by weight of potash or 2 parts by weight of soda lime. Then the solution can be carefully boiled down in a non-metallic container (a solution of hot lye will easily eat through most metals, and will easily eat through flesh), leaving relatively pure lye. This can be recrystallized if higher purity is needed.

	Two reactions have occurred in this process. First, the slaking of quicklime to produce slaked lime:		Two reactions have occurred in this process. First, the slaking of quicklime to produce slaked lime:

Kovoc: Added section for more efficient chloralkali process

2025-05-08T15:36:40Z

Added section for more efficient chloralkali process

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:36, 8 May 2025
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	Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.		Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.
	== Production ==		== Production ==

			=== Production from Alkali Carbonates ===
	Potash lye is generally easier to produce using primitive methods than soda lye, as [[potash]] (K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>) is much easier to procure than [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]] (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>), the latter of which requires the use of the ash from certain coastal plants, whereas former merely needs wood ash.		Potash lye is generally easier to produce using primitive methods than soda lye, as [[potash]] (K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>) is much easier to procure than [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]] (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>), the latter of which requires the use of the ash from certain coastal plants, whereas former merely needs wood ash.

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	: Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>		: Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>

			=== Production from Alkali Chlorides ===
			[[File:HgNaOHElectrolysis.png\|thumb\|A diagram of a Castner–Kellner cell.]]
			Once an abundant source of [[electricity]] has been procured, the alkali carbonate process becomes far too inefficient to be considered worthwhile. The next step in technology is therefore producing lye using the chloralkali process, which is to say, using electrolysis to turn salt into lye. Seeing as sodium chloride is by far the most abundant soluble salt on the planet, this means that rather than potash lye being the most efficient to produce, now soda lye is the most efficient.

			The lowest tech version of the chloralkali process is the Castner-Kellner process, wherein a thin layer of mercury is used to separate the different sections of the cell (preventing the formation of [[Bleach\|sodium hypochlorite]]), while permitting the movement of sodium ions. This is a result of mercury's ability to form an alloy with sodium.

			The adjacent image shows the cross-section of a Castner-Kellner cell.<blockquote>The carbon anodes (''A'', ''A'') pass into the outer compartments which contain brine, and the iron cathodes into the middle compartment which contains sodium hydroxide solution. When the current passes, chlorine is evolved at the anodes and flows out through pipes (not shown), and sodium is produced on the surface of the mercury (''M'') which covers the floor of the whole apparatus. The sodium forms an amalgam with the mercury, and by rocking the apparatus on the device, ''B'', ''B'', the sodium amalgam flows into the compartment, ''D'', where the sodium is liberated by the action of the electric current, which passes between the cathode and the amalgam. The sodium reacts with the water forming hydrogen, which passes off through pipes (not shown) and sodium hydroxide, which flows into a special tank. Both the chlorine and sodium hydroxide are nearly pure.<ref>Newell, Lyman Churchill (1903). ''[https://archive.org/details/descriptivechemi00newerich Descriptive Chemistry].''</ref></blockquote>

	== Uses ==		== Uses ==

Kovoc: Added indents

2025-05-08T10:12:21Z

Added indents

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:12, 8 May 2025
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	Two reactions have occurred in this process. First, the slaking of quicklime to produce slaked lime:		Two reactions have occurred in this process. First, the slaking of quicklime to produce slaked lime:

	CaO + H<sub>2</sub>O → Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>		: CaO + H<sub>2</sub>O → Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>

	Then, the double displacement of the carbonate with the slaked lime to produce lye and limestone:		Then, the double displacement of the carbonate with the slaked lime to produce lye and limestone:

	K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 KOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>		: K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 KOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>

	or,		or,

	Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>		: Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>

	== Uses ==		== Uses ==

Kovoc: Fixed errors in production section

2025-05-08T10:11:42Z

Fixed errors in production section

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:11, 8 May 2025
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	Lye is a caustic base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with ~~animal fat~~, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts.		Lye is the common name of a caustic hydroxide base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with fats, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts. Sodium hydroxide may additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.
			== Production ==
			Potash lye is generally easier to produce using primitive methods than soda lye, as [[potash]] (K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>) is much easier to procure than [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]] (Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>), the latter of which requires the use of the ash from certain coastal plants, whereas former merely needs wood ash.

			The general procedure is as follows, first prepare a solution of slaked lime by adding quicklime to water, 2 parts by weight of quicklime for potash, 1 part by weight for soda ash. Do this slowly as the reaction is very exothermic. Next, simply add your carbonate of choice into the solution, either 5 parts by weight of potash or 2 parts by weight of soda lime. Then the solution can be carefully boiled down in a non-metallic container (a solution of hot lye will easily eat through most metals, and will easily eat through flesh), leaving relatively pure lye. This can be recrystallized if higher purity is needed.

	~~Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used~~ in the ~~production~~ of ~~paper, and water treatment.~~		Two reactions have occurred in this process. First, the slaking of quicklime to produce slaked lime:

			CaO + H<sub>2</sub>O → Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>

	~~Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in~~ the ~~production~~ of ~~[[saltpeter]].~~		Then, the double displacement of the carbonate with the slaked lime to produce lye and limestone:

	~~== Materials needed ==~~		K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 KOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>

	* A salt-tolerant '''plant''' as glassworts, ~~saltworts, or kelp~~		or,
	* '''[[Fire]]'''
	* '''[[Water]]'''
	* [[Quicklime\|'''Limewater''']]

	~~== Crafting instructions ==~~		Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> + Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> → 2 NaOH + CaCO<sub>3</sub>
	~~Soda lye is much easier to produce compared to potash lye, but which you can make is dependent on your location.~~


	~~'''Soda Ash Lye'''~~

	~~First, burn any 'halophyte'~~ (~~salt tolerant~~) plant such as glassworts, saltworts, or kelp, leach the ashes, and boil the resulting liquid to produce [[Soda Ash\|soda ash]] (sodium carbonate). Add the resulting soda ash to [[Quicklime\|limewater]] for a final product of lye (sodium hydroxide).


	~~'''Wood Ash Lye'''~~

	Start by burning wood, and leaching the ash. Boil off the resulting water to create potash. When mixed with [[Quicklime\|limewater]], it produces lye (potassium hydroxide). While easier to create, this method is much less favorable to the soda ash method, as the resulting lye is of lower quality and yeild.

	== Uses ==		== Uses ==
	Lye is a powerful base, particularly useful in the production of [[~~Soap\|~~soap.]]		Lye is a powerful base, particularly useful in the production of [[soap]]. Soda lye in particular may also be used in the production of [[paper]] from wood, via soda pulping.

	== Dependencies ==		== Dependencies ==

Figgity at 21:35, 7 May 2025

2025-05-07T21:35:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 7 May 2025
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			Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.

	~~Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.~~

	Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].		Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].

Figgity: removed a weird duplicate sentance

2025-05-07T21:35:39Z

removed a weird duplicate sentance

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 7 May 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Lye is a caustic base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with animal fat, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts.		Lye is a caustic base, either sodium hydroxide (soda lye) or potassium hydroxide (potash lye). It's most commonly used for making [[soap]] by mixing lye with animal fat, but can also be used to cure and tenderize foods in small amounts.



	Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.		Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.
	~~Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].~~

	Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].		Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].

Figgity at 21:31, 7 May 2025

2025-05-07T21:31:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:31, 7 May 2025
Line 3:		Line 3:

	Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.		Sodium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of paper, and water treatment.
			Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].

	Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].		Potassium hydroxide can additionally be used in the production of [[saltpeter]].