Name: Katie
Message: What is the safest way to dispose of soda ash? 

I will assume that you are asking about discarding soda ash (sodium carbonate) at home or in a teaching lab or art studio, not the large quantities that may be produced industrially.

If you are discarding small quantities that have been dissolved in water, it is safe to just pour it down the sink. Laundry detergent commonly contains quite a lot of sodium carbonate.

The high pH produced by a large amount of sodium carbonate might be bad for a septic system. Add enough vinegar (which is typically 5% acetic acid) or other acid to reach a neutral pH. USe pH paper to determine when you have added sufficient vinegar that your pH gets near 7, which is neutral. The pH of a strong solution of sodium carbonate may be as high as 12.

Once the pH has been neutralized, you will essentially have rather dilute salt water. This is fine for disposal in septic tanks or sewage systems, but should not be dumped directly on plants, as salt can be bad for plant growth.

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