Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3, or Washing Soda, Soda Ash) is the water soluble sodium salt of carbonic acid, produced by the Solvay process and containing about 1 percent of impurities consisting of sulphates, chlorides, and bicarbonates of sodium. The Na2CO3 is used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, soaps, paper, petroleum products, sodium salts, as a cleanser and in water treatment, also used as a pH regulator to maintain stable alkaline conditions.