Sodium Hydroxide Standardized/Normal Solutions

Sodium hydroxide, also known in industry as caustic soda and lye, has one of the highest production volumes of inorganic chemicals worldwide, estimated at about 12 million metric tons. The laboratory market accounts for just a fraction of that, but it is still one of the most widely used inorganic chemicals in the laboratory today. It is a very corrosive inorganic compound, with a high pKb value.

Traditionally, this was a key ingredient in soap making, together with stearic acid. Despite all the many brands/recipes for more modern soaps, including the different colors, shapes, aromas,  lye soap is still one of the most effective and practical soap recipes known. Other uses are in metal processing, petroleum products, mining, glass production, paper/pulp production, and cleaners.

Sodium hydroxide is one of the most widely utilized strong bases in the analytical lab, with typical strengths from 0.1N to 1N. It can be used to test the strength of acid solutions with the use of an indicator, typically phenolphthalein. Other indicators, such as methyl orange, bromocresol green, methyl red,  bromothymol blue, and methyl purple can also be used.

To determine the strength of the sodium hydroxide normality solution, potassium hydrogen phthalate  (KHP, also known as potassium acid phthalate, and potassium hydrogen phthalate) is used as a primary standard. It must be weighed as a dry material (and stored in a desiccator).

Exaxol offers many Sodium Hydroxide Normality standards prepared in our ISO Accredited laboratory.